The diabetic foot

Author(s):  
Michael Edmonds ◽  
Alethea. Foster

At some time in their life, 15% of people with diabetes develop foot ulcers, which are highly susceptible to infection. This may spread rapidly leading to overwhelming tissue destruction and amputation: indeed, 85% of amputations are preceded by an ulcer and there is an amputation in a person with diabetes every 30 seconds throughout the world (1). Evidence-based protocols for diabetic foot ulcers have been developed (2), and diabetic foot programmes that have promoted a multidisciplinary approach to heal foot ulcers with aggressive management of infection and ischaemia have achieved a substantial decrease in amputation rates (3, 4). Furthermore, a reduction in amputations has been reported nationwide in diabetic patients throughout the Netherlands (5). Recently, a decrease in major amputation incidence has been reported in diabetic as well as in nondiabetic patients in Helsinki (6). These reports have stressed the importance of early recognition of the ‘at-risk’ foot, the prompt institution of preventive measures, and the provision of rapid and intensive treatment of foot infection and also evascularization in multidisciplinary foot clinics. Such measures can reduce the number of amputations in diabetic patients. Systematic reviews on prevention and treatment have been carried out, e.g. see Eldor et al. (7), and national guidelines have recently been formulated (8, 9). An International Consensus developed in 1999 was re-launched in revised form as an interactive DVD (10, 11) in 2007. This chapter outlines a simple classification of the diabetic foot into the neuropathic and neuroischaemic foot. It then describes a simple staging system of the natural history of the diabetic foot and a treatment plan for each stage. Successful management of the diabetic foot needs the expertise of a multidisciplinary team which should include physician, podiatrist, nurse, orthotist, radiologist, and surgeon working closely together, within the focus of a diabetic foot clinic.

VASA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sauvant ◽  
Hüttenmoser ◽  
Soyka ◽  
Rüttimann

Diabetics and patients with chronic renal insufficiency often have severe peripheral arterial disease of the distal lower limbs with obstructions of crural and pedal arteries and the imminent risk of critical ischemia and major amputation. Neuroischemic foot ulcers have been shown to fail to heal even after successful arterial revascularization. We report on two diabetic patients with the neuroischemic diabetic foot syndrome and different clinical outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of chronic occluded crural arteries and discuss, whether endovascular revascularisation of infrapopliteal and pedal arteries, if possible with complete plantar arch, could promote ulcer healing in neuroischemic diabetic foot ulcers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110291
Author(s):  
Targ Elgzyri ◽  
Jan Apelqvist ◽  
Eero Lindholm ◽  
Hedvig Örneholm ◽  
Magdalena Annersten Gershater

Background: Forefoot gangrene in patients with diabetes is a severe form of foot ulcers with risk of progress and major amputation. No large cohort studies have examined clinical characteristics and outcome of forefoot gangrene in patients with diabetes. The aim was to examine clinical characteristics and outcome of forefoot gangrene in patients with diabetes admitted to a diabetic foot centre. Methods: Patients with diabetes and foot ulcer consecutively presenting were included if they had forefoot gangrene (Wagner grade 4) at initial visit or developed forefoot gangrene during follow-up at diabetic foot centre. Patients were prospectively followed up until final outcome, either healing or death. The median follow-up period until healing was 41 (3–234) weeks. Results: Four hundred and seventy-six patients were included. The median age was 73 (35–95) years and 63% were males. Of the patients, 82% had cardiovascular disease and 16% had diabetic nephropathy. Vascular intervention was performed in 64%. Fifty-one patients (17% of surviving patients) healed after auto-amputation, 150 after minor amputation (48% of surviving patients), 103 had major amputation (33% of surviving patients) and 162 patients deceased unhealed. Ten patients were lost at follow-up. The median time to healing for all surviving patients was 41 (3–234) weeks; for auto-amputated, 48 (10–228) weeks; for minor amputated, 48 (6–234) weeks; and for major amputation, 32 (3–116) weeks. Conclusion: Healing without major amputation is possible in a large proportion of patients with diabetes and forefoot gangrene, despite these patients being elderly and with extensive co-morbidity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodora Chiţă ◽  
Delia Muntean ◽  
Luminiţa Badiţoiu ◽  
Bogdan Timar ◽  
Roxana Moldovan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and aims: Infected foot ulcer is one of the most feared complications of diabetes mellitus. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated pathogen in diabetic foot infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of S. aureus strains involved in producing foot infections in diabetic patients and the antibiotic resistance pattern of these strains. Material and methods: The study included 33 S. aureus strains isolated from 55 diabetic foot ulcers. The subjects were selected from the 2465 patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized in the Timişoara Diabetes Clinic, between 2011 and 2013. Germs’ identification relied on cultural and biochemical characteristics. Final identification and antimicrobial testing were performed using the Vitek 2 (Bio Merieux France) automatic analyzer. Results: All the 55 samples collected from diabetic foot ulcers were positive. We isolated 64 bacterial strains (some samples were positive for 2 microorganisms). The most frequently isolated germ was S. aureus, in 33 samples (51.56%). All these S. aureus strains showed resistance to benzylpenicillin, while only 33.33% were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Conclusions: The most frequently isolated germ in the wound secretions from diabetic foot ulcers was S. aureus. The highest percentage of antimicrobial resistance was recorded to benzylpenicillin and erythromycin.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amr Abdelaal ◽  
Mostafa Soliman ◽  
Hany Rafik ◽  
Mohamed Emam ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed Elsadek

Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are the main cause of hospitalization in diabetic patients and they are considered a major worldwide health problem. Thus, there is a need to evaluate various treatment modalities. In this study we will assess the clinical efficacy of Silver nanoparticles dressing vs Standard Moist Wound Dressing (SMWD) in management of diabetic foot ulcers. Objective To compare wound outcome, limb salvage, healing time of diabetes related foot ulcers and cost effectiveness in terms of duration of hospital stay between Silver nanotechnology dressings and Standard moist wound therapy (SMWT) in management of diabetic foot ulcers. Patients and Methods This is a prospective randomized controlled study involving 34 patients with active diabetic foot ulcers, in a high volume tertiary referral vascular center. They were divided into 2 groups: 17 patients (group A) were prescribed SMWD and the other 17 patients (group B) received Silver nanoparticles wound dressing. Results Our study correlates with the study conducted by K.Suhas et al. which had observed that Silver nanoparticles wound dressing was safe and effective treatment for complex diabetic foot wounds and could lead to higher proportion of healed wounds and faster healing rates. At the end of the study, group B promised a better outcome as compared to group A. Conclusion The role of Silver nanoparticles wound dressing in healing of diabetic foot ulcers has been proposed as a novel method of manipulating the chronic wound environment in a way that it reduces bacterial burden and chronic interstitial wound fluid, increases vascularity and cytokine expression and to an extent mechanically exploiting the viscoelasticity of peri wound tissues.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (02) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Lu ◽  
Michael DeFazio ◽  
Chrisovalantis Lakhiani ◽  
Michel Abboud ◽  
Morgan Penzler ◽  
...  

Background Recent evidence documenting high success rates following microvascular diabetic foot reconstruction has led to a paradigm shift in favor of more aggressive limb preservation. The primary aim of this study was to examine reconstructive and functional outcomes in patients who underwent free tissue transfer (FTT) for recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) at our tertiary referral center for advanced limb salvage. Methods Between June 2013 and June 2016, 29 patients underwent lower extremity FTT for diabetic foot reconstruction by the senior author (K.K.E.). In all cases, microsurgical reconstruction was offered as an alternative to major amputation for the management of recalcitrant DFUs. Overall rates of flap survival, limb salvage, and postoperative ambulation were evaluated. The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) score was used to assess functional outcomes after surgery. Results Overall rates of flap success and lower limb salvage were 93 and 79%, respectively. Flap failure occurred in two patients with delayed microvascular compromise. Seven patients in this series ultimately required below-knee amputation secondary to recalcitrant infection (n = 5), intractable pain (n = 1), and limb ischemia (n = 1). The average interval between FTT and major amputation was 8 months (r, 0.2–15 months). Postoperative ambulation was confirmed in 25 patients (86%) after a mean final follow-up of 25 months (r, 10–48 months). The average LEFS score for all patients was 46 out of 80 points (r, 12–80 points), indicating the ability to ambulate in the community with some limitations. Conclusion FTT for the management of recalcitrant DFUs is associated with high rates of reconstructive success and postoperative ambulation. However, several patients will eventually require major amputation for reasons unrelated to ultimate flap survival. These data should be used to counsel patients regarding the risks, functional implications, and prognosis of microvascular diabetic foot reconstruction.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olufunmilayo O Adeleye ◽  
Ejiofor T Ugwu ◽  
Ibrahim D Gezawa ◽  
Innocent Okpe ◽  
Ignatius Ezeani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are associated with high morbidity and mortality globally. Mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria is unacceptably high. This study was undertaken to determine factors that predict mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria.Methods:The current study was part of Multi-centre Evaluation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Nigeria (MEDFUN), an observational study conducted in six tertiary healthcare institutions across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Consecutive type 1 or 2 diabetic patients hospitalized for DFU who consented to participate were recruited and subjected to relevant clinical, biochemical and radiological assessments and multidisciplinary care until discharge or death. Data for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were expunged from current mortality analysis due to their small number.Results: Three hundred and twenty three type 2 DM subjects with mean age and mean duration of DM of 57.2 11.4 years and 8.7± 5.8 years respectively participated in this study. The median duration of ulcers was 39 days with a range of 28 to 54 days and majority (79.9%) presented with advanced ulcers of at least Wagner grade 3. Mortality of 21.4% was recorded in the study, with the highest mortality observed among subjects with Wagner grade 5. Variables significantly associated with mortality with their respective p values were DM duration more than 120 months (p 0.005), ulcer duration > one month (p 0.020), ulcer severity of Wagner grade 3 and above (p 0.001), peripheral arterial disease (p 0.005), proteinuria (p <0.001), positive blood cultures (p<0.001), low HDL (p <0.001), shock at presentation (p<0.001), cardiac failure (p 0.027),and renal impairment (p <0.001). On Multivariate regression analysis, presence of bacteraemia (OR 5.053; 95% CI 2.572-9.428) and renal impairment (OR 2.838; 95% CI 1.349 – 5.971) were significantly predictive of mortality independent of other variables.Conclusions: This study showed high intra-hospital mortality among patients with DFU, with majority of deaths occurring among those with advanced ulcers, bacteremia, cardiac failure and renal impairment. Prompt attention to these factors might be helpful in improving survival from DFU in Nigeria.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Lowe ◽  
R. Gary Sibbald ◽  
Nashwah Y. Taha ◽  
Gerald Lebovic ◽  
Madan Rambaran ◽  
...  

Background. Type 2 diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in Guyana, South America. A complex, interprofessional, quality improvement intervention to improve foot and diabetes care was rolled out in two phases.Methods & Findings. Phase 1: Establishment of an Interprofessional Diabetic Foot Center (DFC) of Excellence to improve foot care and reduce diabetes-related amputations at the national referral hospital. Phase 2: Regionalization to cover 90% of the Guyanese population and expansion to include improved management of diabetes and hypertension. Fourteen key opinion leaders were educated and 340 health care professionals from 97 facilities trained. Eight centers for the evaluation and treatment of foot ulcers were established and 7567 people with diabetes evaluated. 3452 participants had foot screening and 48% were deemed high risk; 10% of these had undocumented foot ulcers. There was a 68% reduction in rate of major amputations (P<0.0001); below knee amputations were decreased by 80%, while above knee amputations were unchanged. An increased association of diabetes with women (F/M = 2.09) and increased risk of major amputation in men [odds ratio 2.16 (95% CI 1.83, 2.56)] were documented.Conclusions. This intervention improved foot care with reduction in major amputations sustained over 5 years.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinedum Ogbonnaya Eleazu ◽  
Aniza Abd Aziz ◽  
Tay Chuu Suen ◽  
Lam Chun-Hau ◽  
Chin Elynn ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to design to assess the traditional, complementary and alternate medicine (TCAM) usage and its association with the quality of life (QOL) of Type 2 diabetic patients in a tertiary hospital (Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia) in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach A total of 300 respondents included in this study were divided into the following two major categories: TCAM (34.33% of respondents) and non-TCAM users (65.67% of the respondents), respectively. The mean ages of the respondents were 59.3 ± 10.2 for the TCAM users and 57.7 ± 12.0 for the non-TCAM users. Findings A greater percentage of non-TCAM users reported poor control of diabetes (14.7%) and blood glucose (55.8%) compared with the TCAM users (9.7% and 48.5%, respectively). Further, the diabetic patients on TCAM reported lower rates of coma, stroke and kidney problems but higher rates of diabetic foot ulcers, heart diseases and retinopathy than the non-TCAM users. Additionally, the diabetic patients with TCAM usage had a significantly better physical (p = 0.02) and overall (p = 0.03) qualities of life compared to the non-TCAM users. However, psychological, social and environmental health did not show any significant difference. Originality/value The prevalence of TCAM usage among diabetic patients was lower than in other comparable studies. Diabetic patients on TCAM reported lower rates of coma, stroke and kidney problems but higher rates of diabetic foot ulcers, heart diseases and retinopathy than the non-TCAM users. Further, diabetes patients on TCAM reported better QOL compared to non-TCAM users especially in terms of physical health.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
saada Mohamed nour ◽  
Maowia Mukhtar ◽  
Mohamed Elmakk ◽  
Elshibli Mohamed Elshibli ◽  
Walyeldin Elnour Elfakey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcer infection cause great morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients and is a major cause of lower extremity amputation worldwide. This study aimed to determine the profile of aerobic bacteria and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns in diabetic foot infections (DFI) among different Wagner's grades. Methods This study was conducted during December 2017 - March 2018 in a Diabetic Center, Sudan. A total of 152 diabetic patients with different grades of foot ulcers were randomly enrolled in the study. The patients were grouped using Wagner's classification. Tissue biopsies and deep swabs were collected from the ulcers for aerobic cultures. The cultured isolates were identified using phenotypic and biochemical properties and their sensitivity to commonly used antibiotics, Colistin, Aikacin, Ciprofloxacin, Augmentin, Ceftazideme, Gentamicin, Clindamycin, Ceftriaxone Meropenum. Cotrimoxazole, Erythomycin, Oxacillin and Vancomycin. Fusidic acid, Imepenem, and Piperacillin was tested using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Results The mean age of the patients was 54.31 (SD ± 12.1) years, male to female ratio of 8: 1. The mean duration of diabetes was 14 (SD ± 8) years. The ulcers varied in duration from 1 day to 10 years. of 152 samples 181 aerobic bacteria were isolated. Cultures yielded 1-3 isolate per culture. The maximum number was isolated from grade 3 group followed by long standing ulcer LSU group 50.8% and 28% respectively. Polymicrobial infection was higher in LSU (30.4%). The isolates were mostly Gram-negative bacteria. The most frequent were proteus spp. (35.3%), S. aureus MRSA 14.4% and Coliform 12.2% respectively. The most common isolates in grade 3 were P. Mirablis, Staphylococcus and Coliform and in long standing ulcers were P. Mirablis, S. aureus MRSA and Coagulase negative staphylococcus respectively. Conclusion Gram-negative bacteria were more prevalent and the most frequent pathogens were Proteus spp. The most common polymicrobial infections were due to P. mirablis with; P. aerginosa, S. MRSA and Coliform respectively . Gram negative rods were sensitive to Amikacin, (80.6) %) while the highest sensitivity of Gram positive was to Imepnem (85%). Most of the isolates were sensitive to Meropenem. No significant relation between Wagner grades and neuropathy was detected.


2016 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 017-024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Steel ◽  
John Reece ◽  
Anne-Marie Daw

AbstractThe prevalence of diabetes is increasing, as is the cost of managing its comorbidities. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and their complications place a considerable cost burden on the health system, and lead to a significant level of disability. The relationship between depression and diabetes is well-established. The relationship between depression and foot ulcers in diabetic patients is less well-established. The purpose of this article is to provide a current concept review of the literature from 1988 to 2013, linking DFUs and depressive symptoms, with an emphasis on the impact depressive symptoms have on healing rates of DFUs. Articles specifically focusing on the biological relationship, depression′s impact on self-care, screening for depressive symptoms, causes and cost of treating DFUs, and measuring depression were reviewed. A deeper understanding of this relationship is needed to identify causal relationships, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce healing times of DFUs.


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