UCSF Center for Limb Preservation

In 2011, Dr. Reyzelman dedicated time and effort building a Limb Preservation and Wound Care Center at UCSF:  limbpreservation.ucsf.edu. He partnered with Dr. Michael Conte MD, a Vascular Surgeon, to help diabetic patients in need of advanced wound care and limb preservation. This multi-disciplinary approach pools the expertise of vascular surgeons, podiatrists, reconstructive microsurgeons, and other specialists to provide integrated, multidisciplinary, care for patients at high risk of foot and leg amputation, particularly diabetic patients.

A non-healing diabetic foot ulcer affects the patient’s quality of life. When a complex long-term non-healing wound is left untreated or becomes unresponsive to treatment, an infection may result that may ultimately require amputation to prevent systemic infection throughout the body. The UCSF Center for Limb Preservation and Diabetic Foot specializes in treating these non-healing wounds of the foot, ankle, and leg with the goal of preserving the affected area.

Any non-healing ulcer or can quickly become a limb-threatening situation. Patients with circulation problems, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or ischemia associated with diabetic small vessel disease, are especially susceptible to the risk of amputation because wounds lacking blood flow cannot heal on their own. In addition, nerve damage from diabetic peripheral neuropathy results in a loss of sensation to the extremities leading to the formation of open wounds. The lack of pain protection and inadequate stimulation of the immune system impacts an ulcer’s ability to heal. Any open wound can lead to infection of the tissue or osteomyelitis, infection of the bone.

Dr. Reyzelman has built an all-star team of individuals and colleagues who believe that preventing amputation drives a multi-disciplinary approach to management of complicated wounds.