Tissue regeneration company Derma Sciences, Inc. recently showcased a patient video featuring actor and director Stephen Furst, at the Fall Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), on October, 17, in Las Vegas. The story, “Off-Loading Your Diabetic Foot Ulcer, An Actor’s Story,” reveals Furst’s personal struggles with diabetes and how the TCC-EZ Total Contact Casting system helped him recover from a foot ulcer that could have eventually led to amputation.
In addition to Furst, who has starred in films and television shows such as Animal House, St. Elsewhere, and Babylon 5, the film also features Dr. Lee C. Rogers, Medical Director of the Amputation Prevention Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital and Furst’s doctor. In the video, Dr. Rogers discusses the TCC-EZ’s capacity to reduce pressure around wounds, which enables them to heal. “Total contact casting is the preferred method for healing diabetic foot ulcers, in fact, many experts consider total contact casting the Gold Standard,” explained Rogers.
“Application of TCC-EZ is quick and easy – It has the added benefits of allowing patients to carry-on with their normal daily life without much modification,” the physician added. “Patients tell me that the cast is comfortable to wear, and that they are fairly mobile when wearing it. In almost 90 percent of patients ulcers heal in about 6-8 weeks, according to studies on total contact casting. TCC-EZ is really one of the best tools I have when I’m fighting diabetic foot ulcers.”
On “Off-Loading Your Diabetic Foot Ulcer, An Actor’s Story,” Furst recounts the other treatment options he tried, as well as how other treatment options ended up interfering with his life, including collagen dressings, silver dressings, and the post-op shoe. His experience with TCC-EZ was different, as it is meant to off-load weight from the bottom of the foot, allowing the wounds on the foot to heal.
“The problem I had with diabetic ulcers is that they would start to heal and then they would recur, because I would be on my feet more so then I should’ve been,” said Furst. “Being told I could lose my foot was a real wakeup call for me, I didn’t know there was a solution like TCC-EZ, which really helped me save my foot. It allowed me to do the things I normally do.”
