To investigate the effects of silver ion dressing on the degree of ulcer, growth factors and inflammation levels in elderly patients with diabetic foot ulcer complicated with infection.

A total of 60 elderly patients with diabetic foot ulcers complicated with infection admitted in Dehong Prefecture People's Hospital during January 2018 and January 2021 were enrolled in the study. The 60 patients were divided into observation group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with wet wound dressing, and the observation group was treated with silver ion dressing. The degree of ulcer, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) , epidermal cell growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in two groups were compared using t test.

The scores of ulcer degree were decreased after treatment in both groups (observation group: t=19.443, control group: t=7.486, P < 0.01), and the score in observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (t=14.593, P < 0.01). The levels of VEGF, EGF and bFGF were increased after treatment in both groups (observation group: t=15.408, 28.493, 17.668; control group: t=9.510, 18.365, 12.956; P < 0.01), and the levels in observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=4.382, 7.922, 5.641; P < 0.01). The CRP levels were decrease after treatment in both groups (observation group: t=7.353, control group: t=4.142, P < 0.01), and that in observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (t=3.594, P < 0.05).

Silver ion dressing can reduce the degree of ulcers and inflammation level, promote the secretion of related growth factors in elderly patients with diabetic foot ulcer complicated with infection.