Plastic surgeons are trained to increase healing by soft tissue manipulation, following a reconstruction method to manage and salvage diabetic foot ulcers. Plastic surgeons play an important role in the salvage of limbs; as durable soft tissue coverage is required to treat an ulcer.
Skin graft are the most commonly used methods to provide skin coverage by a plastic surgeon. Skin grafts require a recipient bed that is vascularized.
Lower extremity ulcer complications remain the most common reason for hospital admission in people with diabetes. Soft tissue reconstruction by a plastic surgeon can help preserve as much of the residual limb as possible and in some cases avoiding a major amputation may be possible.