Effect of Topical Phenytoin with Normal Saline Dressing in Patients of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Introduction: Chronic wounds, especially non healing types are one of the most common surgical conditions a surgeon comes across. One of the most feared complication of long term diabetes is loss of leg or foot. It has been estimated that one in five of all diabetic admissions to hospitals are for foot ulcers. The diabetic foot ulcers arrest in inflammatory stage of healing due to neuropathy, angiopathy and infections. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of topical phenytoin dressing with normal saline dressing in promoting healing of diabetic foot ulcers. It also aimed to evaluate associated outcomes such as infection rates and need for surgical intervention. Materials & Methods: This hospital-based prospective randomized comparative study was conducted at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital from January 2024 to June 2025 and included 100 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Result: In our study secondary infection was significantly lower in the phenytoin group (6 patients, 12%) compared to the saline group (14 patients, 28%) (p = 0.04). The need for surgical intervention was also less in the phenytoin group (4 patients, 8%) than in the saline group (11 patients, 22%) (p = 0.04). Conclusion: We concluded that topical phenytoin dressing is markedly more efficacious than regular saline dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Due to similar baseline characteristics across the two groups, the enhanced outcomes may be reliably ascribed to the intervention.