Chronic bone infection (osteomyelitis)
Bone infection is common under deep diabetic foot ulcers. Treatment combines antibiotics, surgery to remove infected bone, and sometimes hyperbaric oxygen therapy when infection doesn't respond to standard care.
When to get help now: Fever with a foot wound needs same-day care.
Warning signs
- A wound where you can feel or see bone
- Drainage that doesn't stop
- Swollen, red, warm toe or foot
Who is at risk
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Past foot surgery or fractures
How we treat it
Limb salvage surgery
Surgical bypass, infected bone removal and foot reconstruction to avoid major amputation.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
Breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber to help hard-to-heal wounds.
Advanced wound care
Debridement, specialized dressings, negative pressure therapy and skin substitutes.
Medically reviewed by: [Clinician name, credentials] · Last reviewed: [date]