Common foot & ankle concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, lifting, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries: acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn't resolve
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Open foot wounds that need prompt care
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound on the foot of a person with diabetes. It is a truly urgent problem that needs prompt evaluation to prevent infection and limb loss. Same-day or next-day evaluations across eight LA-area offices.
See a specialist this week
Board-certified surgeons and podiatrists across eight Los Angeles area neighborhoods.
Book a visitOr call (323) 264-7600
What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- Diabetic foot ulcers are among the many foot & ankle conditions our specialists evaluate every day.
- Healing rests on three pillars: offloading pressure from the wound, regular debridement and dressing care, and ensuring adequate blood flow.
- When a procedure is the right call, we explain every option, recovery timeline, and return-to-activity milestone.
- On-site imaging at most offices and same-day appointments across eight Los Angeles-area locations.
What are diabetic foot ulcers?
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound on the foot of a person with diabetes. It is a truly urgent problem that needs prompt evaluation to prevent infection and limb loss. Ulcers often start from pressure or a minor injury and may not hurt, so any open sore on the foot should be evaluated right away.
Diabetic foot ulcers heal with aggressive wound care: regular debridement (removing dead and callused tissue), moist wound dressings, and strict offloading so no pressure lands on the wound, often with a total contact cast or offloading boot. We assess circulation early, because a wound cannot heal without blood flow, and treat infection promptly. Surgery has a real role when needed: deeper debridement, draining infection, or correcting a deformity that keeps re-ulcerating the same spot.
Below, we walk through the anatomy involved, the symptoms and causes we most often see, how we diagnose diabetic foot ulcers, and the full range of treatment options, from the simplest to the most involved.
Inside the foot & ankle.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones, more than 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The plantar fascia spans the bottom of the foot, the Achilles tendon anchors the calf to the heel, and the ankle is a hinge that handles every step you take. Most foot and ankle problems trace back to overload, alignment, or footwear that doesn't match the way your foot is built.
Symptoms and causes of diabetic foot ulcers
Common symptoms
- An open sore or wound on the foot
- Drainage from the wound
- Redness or warmth around the wound
- Pain may be absent due to neuropathy
Common causes
- Diabetic neuropathy reducing protective sensation
- Poor circulation
- Repetitive pressure from shoes or gait
- Minor cuts or blisters left untreated
How we diagnose diabetic foot ulcers
You want answers, fast, and we're built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here's what your initial visit for diabetic foot ulcers typically looks like:
- Detailed history: when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you've already tried
- Wound and foot exam: the size and depth of the ulcer, signs of infection, protective sensation, and pulses
- Imaging and circulation testing when needed: X-ray to check the bone, MRI if bone infection is suspected, and blood-flow studies
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation at the LAOSS office nearest you.
How we treat diabetic foot ulcers at LAOSS
Once we've confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits, and escalate only when it doesn't.
Conservative care
Step 1Wound care & offloading
The fundamentals that heal most ulcers, done consistently, week after week.
- Regular sharp debridement of dead and callused tissue
- Moist wound dressings matched to the wound
- Total contact casting or offloading boots; pressure relief is non-negotiable
- Infection control with cultures and antibiotics when needed
- Vascular assessment and referral when blood flow is inadequate
- Blood-sugar optimization with your physician
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
When wounds run deep, infection reaches bone, or deformity keeps re-ulcerating, surgery protects the limb.
- Operative debridement of deep or infected wounds
- Drainage of abscess and treatment of bone infection (osteomyelitis)
- Correction of deformity causing repeat ulceration
- Achilles or gastrocnemius lengthening to reduce forefoot pressure
- Skin grafting and advanced wound coverage
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Foot & ankle care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our foot & ankle specialists move stepwise: start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist is the next step.
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist.
- Any open sore, blister, or wound on the foot, even if it does not hurt
- Swelling, instability, or noticeable change in function
- Symptoms that limit walking, lifting, sleep, or work
- Previous treatment that didn't fully resolve the problem
- Imaging or exam findings that suggest an underlying issue
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history: onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, numbness, progressive weakness, or any sign of infection (fever, increasing redness or swelling).
Your foot & ankle recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line, but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
- Days 0 to 14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on taking pressure off the wound, controlling any infection, and starting regular wound care.
- Strict offloading: a cast, boot, or special shoe worn as directed
- Dressing changes as instructed, with the wound kept clean
- Antibiotics when infection is present
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
- Weeks 2 to 8
Healing phase
Regular visits keep the wound clean and offloaded while new tissue fills in.
- Debridement of dead and callused tissue at regular visits
- Wound measurements to confirm steady progress
- Circulation testing or vascular referral if healing stalls
- Blood-sugar control coordinated with your physician
- Months 2+
Long-term care
Healing can take several months. Once the wound has closed, the focus shifts to preventing the next one, because healed ulcers often come back.
- Diabetic shoes and custom insoles that spread pressure
- Daily foot checks at home
- Regular preventive foot exams and callus care
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient. Informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection, which is a higher risk with diabetes and an open wound
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Foot and ankle considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the foot & ankle. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Slow or incomplete healing, especially when circulation is poor
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Meet our foot & ankle doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists are board-certified and treat these problems every day. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to joint replacement and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. We have cared for Los Angeles patients since 2007, with one goal for each: less pain, better movement, and a return to the activities you love.
Diabetic foot ulcer care starts here
Don't let diabetic foot ulcers be something you just power through. With same- or next-day appointments at multiple Los Angeles locations, you'll never wait weeks or months for answers. The same team handles your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Whether you need wound care and offloading, infection treatment, or surgery to protect the limb, we plan it with you and coordinate each step.
Call or schedule online today to see a foot & ankle specialist in Los Angeles.
Common diabetic foot ulcer questions
- We start with a detailed history and a careful exam of the wound: its size and depth, any sign of infection, sensation in the foot, and circulation. X-rays are usually done in-office to check the bone, and MRI or blood-flow testing is ordered when deeper infection or poor circulation is suspected. Most patients leave the first visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan.
Don't wait on pain.
Book a visit with a foot & ankle specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles-area offices.
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21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
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