Infection in the ischemic diabetic foot: optimum management

ABSTRACT

46 diabetic patients with lower limb ischemia and superadded foot infection [group 1] were managed by an aggressive approach of revascularization and foot debridement. They were compared with two groups of patients An equally matched group of diabetic patients with limb threatening ischemia and without foot infection [group 2] and an equally matched group of non-diabetic patients with limb threatening ischemia [group 3]. There was no significant difference in the limb salvage rates among the 3 groups Group 1 [65.6%], group 2 [63.8%] and group 3 [70.1%] at 2 years. Moreover, foot infection in the diabetics was not accompanied by a higher incidence of wound infection at the sites of vessel exposure. This justified the aggressive approach though the hospital stay was longer [average 46.6 days] than if they had done a primary amputation