Nerve Decompression for Ulcer Recurrence Avoidance (DURA)

Anecdotal reports and scientific literature suggest that the risk of recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers can be minimized by nerve decompression procedures at anatomic sites of nerve pinching and entrapment. Historical risk of 25% annually has been reported to decrease by \>80% to under 5% yearly. Since an open wound precedes the large majority (85%) of amputations in diabetes, avoidance of ulcer recurrences is important. This study tests the current academic opinion that nerve decompression will not decrease ulcer recurrence risk. Null hypothesis: nerve decompression will not decrease diabetic foot ulcer recurrence risk.