To explore the clinical value of Huafu Shengji ointment (HFSJO) in treating refractory diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) unresponsive to standard therapies, highlighting its potential significance in improving patient outcomes.
Key Findings:
All patients showed substantial granulation, epithelialization, and eventual closure of ulcers within 30–180 days, with ulcer sizes ranging from 3.0 cm × 3.0 cm to 7.0 cm × 5.0 cm and comorbidities including hypertension and cardiovascular disease. No clinically significant abnormalities in liver or renal function tests or routine hematological parameters were observed during treatment.
Interpretation:
Topical HFSJO appears to be a safe and effective conservative strategy for managing complex DFUs, particularly in patients unsuitable for surgery or unresponsive to standard care, potentially through its dual mechanism of targeted debridement and regenerative stimulation.
Limitations:
The small sample size of only four cases limits the generalizability of the findings, and the lack of controlled clinical trials to validate these results is a significant concern.
Conclusion:
HFSJO may help overcome healing stagnation in DFUs and warrants further investigation in larger controlled studies to validate its efficacy.
