Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients often face incomplete wound healing which leads to a long-term state of inflammation and risk of infection. Prolonged wound healing is thought to result in part from impaired tissue perfusion due to microvascular disease. This study applies dynamic blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) imaging to quantify reperfusion of tissue after induced occlusion and ischemia in the foot. When compared to a healthy population, DFU patients show an increased ischemic state during cuff occlusion and decreased reperfusion after release. Quantification of cuff-occlusion parameters may assist in the classification of DFUs and be used to predict the prognosis and enhance treatment plan.
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