| Objective: To observe the effect of the Qi and blood tonifying medicinal diet combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement in the treatment of Wagner grade II-IV diabetic foot in the elderly and its influence on serum nutritional indicators. Methods: A total of 104 elderly patients with Wagner grade II-IV diabetic foot admitted to the Ninth People"s Hospital of Zhengzhou from June 2024 to January 2025 were randomly divided into two groups at a 1:1 ratio. The conventional group was treated with antibiotic-loaded bone cement, while the medicinal diet group was treated with Qi and blood tonifying medicinal diet combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement. The 7-day granulation tissue coverage rate, drainage tube blockage rate, survival rate of stage II wound repair, hospital stay, treatment cost, and complication rate were compared between the two groups. Serum nutritional indicators and dorsalis pedis artery hemodynamic indicators were detected before and after treatment in both groups, and the differences in MNA score, American Orthopaedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score were evaluated. Results: The 7-day granulation tissue coverage rate and survival rate of stage II wound repair in the medicinal diet group were higher than those in the conventional group, while the drainage tube blockage rate, hospital stay, treatment cost, and cumulative complication rate were lower (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum nutritional indicators before treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, total protein, albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin levels in both groups increased compared with those before treatment, and the levels in the medicinal diet group were higher than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in MNA score, AOFAS score, and VAS score before treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, MNA score and AOFAS score in both groups increased compared with those before treatment, and the scores in the medicinal diet group were higher than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05); VAS score in both groups decreased compared with that before treatment, and the score in the medicinal diet group was lower than that in the conventional group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in dorsalis pedis artery hemodynamics before treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the vascular diameter and blood flow in both groups increased compared with those before treatment, and the levels in the medicinal diet group were higher than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05); the peak flow velocity in both groups decreased compared with that before treatment, and the velocity in the medicinal diet group was lower than that in the conventional group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The Qi and blood tonifying medicinal diet combined with antibiotic-loaded bone cement can improve the nutritional status of the body, correct the abnormal hemodynamics of the dorsalis pedis artery, relieve pain, and reduce the complication rate in the treatment of Wagner grade II-IV diabetic foot in the elderly. |