Diabetic Foot Gangrene

ABSTRACT

Over a 5-year period; 1987 to 1991; 108 patients with foot gangrene were treated at the National Orthopaedic; Enugu. Out of these; 30 were diabetics; 12 of them being diagnosed on admission. Diabetic control; wound care and amputation constituted the treatment regimen. Amputations were peformed in 66.7of the cases. Patients ignorant of their diabetic status before admission had the worst prognosis. There was 33 percent mortality. This can be bettered with health education; including better awareness among doctors in peripheral hospitals