Conference Summary

The 3rd Egyptian Diabetic Foot Conference

 

October 6-7, 2011 - Le Meridien Heliopolis Hotel, Cairo, Egypt

 


Organized by

 The Egyptian Society of Diabetic Foot (ESDF)

 

The conference was attended by more than 300 delegates from Egypt and other countries e.g. India, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan and United Arab of Emirates. The conference presented practical Knowledge  and recent research on diabetic foot,  in addition to abstracts and workshops.

 The first session aimed to provide audience with some basic information related to diabetic foot. The session was chaired by Mamdouh El-Nahas, Chairman of the ESDF and Sjef van Baal, Netherlands. The functional anatomy of the foot was addressed by Professor Omnia State. She discussed how the complex foot anatomy could be translated into practical points that will be very important for clinicians. Professor Mamdouh El-Nahas, provided an overview of the diabetic foot. He stressed on identifying the foot at risk and how there is still large gap between what we know and what we actually do. The foot biomechanics was discussed by Professor Hanan Gawish, Secretary General of ESDF and Egypt representative of the IWGDF. She demonstrated how Biomechanical assessment of the foot should be an integral part of clinical assessment for diabetic patients especially for those with loss of protective sensation.

 

 

The 2nd session discussed PAD from medical and surgical perspectives. The session was chaired by Ayman Saleh, Prof of Cardiology. The risk factors of PAD were summarized  by Nabil El-Kafrawy, Professor and head of Internal Medicine Department ,Menofieya University. He also summarized medical treatment of PAD. Diagnosis of critical limb ischemia was summarized by Sjef van Baal, Vascular Surgeon, Head of diabetic foot department, ZGT Almelo, Netherlands. He also elegantly discussed revascularization using either endovascular or conventional vascular surgery.  

 

 

The 3rd session covered some of the therapeutic modalities for  diabetic foot ulcers. The cession was chaired by Nabil Lymon, professor of Internal medicine. Erik Manning, Wound Consultant, ZGT Hospital, Almelo, Netherlands sumarized basic concepts of wound bed preparation. The controversial role of Hyperbaric  oxygen in wound healing was discussed by Mamdouh El-Nahas. He concluded that HBO treatment can be an effective adjunct to wound healing in selected patients but does not replace any components of the accepted standards of wound care. Mosaad El-Ghatwary, ACDIMA pharmaceutical company presented some evidence for the efficacy of topical phenytoin to enhance wound healing.

 

The 4th session addressed peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. The session was chaired by Professor Hanan Gawish and Professor Hany Mowafy, professor of orthopedic surgery. The value of custom made insole as a therapeutic option for patients with neuropathy was discussed by Rob Haspels, ZGT Almelo, Netherlands. He presented the available evidence and demonstrated methods to manufacture CMIs. He also discussed the value of therapeutic shoes and custom made shoes. Professor Hanan Gawish summarized the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of Charcot Foot. She concluded that the ultimate goal of non operative and operative treatment of chronic Charcot foot is to stabilize and realign the foot and ankle to allow the patient a functional limb.

 

 

       The 2nd day of the conference was unique in being interactive and practical. The 1st session was chaired by Carlo Caravaggi, Itay and Magdy Hamed, Head of Internal Medicine department, Mansoura University.  Carlo Caravaggi elegantly chaired the session and greatly enriched the discussion. Professor Manal Tarshoby, reviewed lessons learned in the management of diabetic foot infections. She stressed the importance of  early  diagnosis based on  clinical signs   of inflammation and early empirical treatment. Professor Nesrene Omar, Professor of Microbiologly discussed the potential role of biofilm in impeding wound healing and how to overcome this problem.

       The 2nd session of the 2nd day was specified for accepted oral abstracts. The session was chaired by Mamdouh El-Nahas and Sjef van Baal. Mohamed Motawea from Egypt,  showed data about Mansoura Experience in Charcot Osteoarthropathy. Hiten Kareliya from India presented data about fungal infections affecting the foot of diabetic subjects in India. Fady Kyrillos from Egypt presented a case study demonstrating the outcome of offloading a diabetic patient with advanced foot pathology. Mounia Sabasse from United Arab of Emirates presented her experience to establish a diabetes foot clinic in Dubai.

       The 3rd session was chaired by Professor Fahmy Emara, Emiritus Professor of Diabetes, Alexandria University. In this session, Professor Ashraf Talaat, Banha University summarized limb affection in diabetic patients with renal diseases. Professor Mosbah Kamel revised protocols and regimen of insulin therapy for critically ill patients.

The last 2 hours of the conference were specified for practical workshops. Four fascinating workshops were organized that were both practical  and interactive. These workshops addressed important clinical maneuvers. Each delegate  had the chance to attend two of the four workshops (Plantar pressure measurement,  Casting techniques, Dressing for a diabetic wound and  Footwear for diabetic patients)