Unani treatment and leech therapy saved the diabetic foot of a patient from amputation
Case report published in Int Wound J (2016)
Abstract
Every 30 seconds, a lower limb amputation is carried out due to diabetes throughout the world. The mortality rate due to diabetic foot gangrene is just next to that of cancer. As tissue death cannot be reversed, surgical removal of the affected tissue (debridement) or amputation of the limb is the only treatment option left when gangrene has advanced. The present case study illustrates an option to treat poorly healing diabetic wounds with Unani medicine (blood purifier and deobstruent) besides hirudotherapy. The study was performed on a 60-year-old woman suffering from diabetic foot (on the left) grade 5 and facing the prospect of imminent amputation. The patient was having severe pain (80 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale) in the gangrenous foot and foul-smelling with necrosed areas. Wound dressing was done with unripe papaya as it has a very good role in clearing necrotising area and hirudotherapy was also used in poorly healing wounds. The pain score decreased to 0-10 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale within 20 days and no further pain relieving medication was required. Over a time interval of nearly 3·5 months, necrotic areas disappeared and the wound was completely healed.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
60-year-old woman with grade 5 diabetic foot saved from amputation by Unani medicine and hirudotherapy with complete wound healing over 3.5 months.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este reporte de caso detalla el uso de medicina Unani e hirudoterapia para tratar una úlcera diabética de pie severa y de mala cicatrización en una mujer de 60 años que enfrentaba una amputación inminente. El estudio es directamente relevante para el dominio clínico de ASH, ya que demuestra la aplicación práctica de la terapia con sanguijuelas junto con apósitos de papaya verde para limpiar las áreas necróticas. El tratamiento combinado condujo finalmente a la cicatrización completa de la herida y redujo significativamente el dolor durante un período de 3,5 meses. Sin embargo, se trata de un reporte de caso único que documenta un enfoque terapéutico combinado; la eficacia clínica aislada de la hirudoterapia sola no puede determinarse a partir de este reporte, y no se incluyó un grupo control.
Citación
Unani treatment and leech therapy saved the diabetic foot of a patient from amputation.
Zaidi SMA · International wound journal, 2016
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026