Missingness: Or why are some people failing to engage with foot services in time?

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an uncomfortable and often recurrent situation in foot care services in the UK which frequently manifests in the older, White British, overweight, lone male population who often are manual workers. Result(s): These patients are unaware of local or national health promotion campaigns (e.g. iDEAL group's ACT NOW campaign, Diabetes UK's Putting Feet First) so have little awareness and education regarding potential foot problems. They are not aware of 5-to drive, eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, check your feet every day or walk 10,000 steps initiatives. They do not access public health materials and do not follow social media platforms, magazines, or newspapers. Therefore when they present in clinic, often after an emergency appointment with their GP, or an attendance at A&E, they present with significant soft tissue damage or systemic infection, frequently catastrophic tissue loss and serious co-morbidity (often in the form of renal or cardiac failure). Many require immediate hospital admission, intra-venous antibiotics, surgical debridement, vascular intervention and/or amputation. Unfortunately for some early mortality (often from an overwhelming cardio-vascular event) is the reality before they get as far as a major amputation. Discussion(s): Patients with more long-term conditions have increased risk of missing GP appointments (after controlling for number of appointments made) and are at increased risk of all-cause mortality, with those with long-term mental-health conditions who miss >2 appointments per year having >8x risk of all-cause mortality compared with those similar diagnoses who missed no appointments (McQueenie et al. 2019).

Comparative Study about Different Years of Amputation with Various Indications

Aims Amputation is a procedure in which an unhealthy limb or a part of it is cut because it is dangerous, or useless or disrupts life. This procedure in itself is considered a crippling procedure, yet it is also a life-saving procedure. This study aimed to compare the causes of amputation in Iraqi subjects for five years (2016-2020). Instruments & Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 758 amputated patients were investigated from 1st day of 2016 to the last day of 2020 at Al-Hariri Hospital for Surgical Specialty. Findings The rate of amputation in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 was 6%, 6%, 4%, 3%, and 2% of total admitted cases, respectively. The highest cause of amputation in 2020 was diabetes mellitus (18%) and mostly in males. Diabetes mellitus and vascular ischemia in both sexes were 18% of total amputated cases in 2019. Trauma was 23% of total amputated cases in 2018, 57% in 2017, and 64% in 2016. Conclusion The rate of amputation is not so high. There is a significant association between amputation and gender, age, occupation, and the cause of amputation. There is no significant relationship between amputation and the hospital stay, the parts are either lower or upper, and the side is either left or right. Regarding the indications of amputation, the highest cause of amputations changes every year. Copyright© 2023, the Authors.

Primary immunodeficiency associated with a SAMD9L mutation

Background: SAMD9L is a tumor suppressor involved in regulating the proliferation and maturation of cells, particularly those derived from the bone marrow, and appears to play an important role in cerebellar function. It can be activated in hematopoietic stem cells by type I and type II interferons. It has been hypothesized to act as a critical antiviral gatekeeper regulating interferon dependent demand driven hematopoiesis. Gain of function mutations can present with an immunodeficiency due to transient severe cytopenias during viral infection. Case presentation: We report a 3-year-old boy born full term with a history of severe thrombocytopenia requiring transfusions, developmental delay, ataxia, seizure disorder, and recurrent severe respiratory viral infections. His infectious history was significant for respiratory syncytial virus with shock requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complicated by cerebral infarction and a group A streptococcus empyema, osteomyelitis requiring a left below the knee amputation, and infections with rhinovirus, COVID-19, and parainfluenza requiring hospitalizations for respiratory support. Initial immunologic evaluation was done during his hospitalization for parainfluenza. His full T cell subsets was significant for lymphopenia across all cell lines with CD3 934/microL, CD4 653/microL, CD8 227/microL, CD19 76/microL, and CD1656 61/microL. His mitogen stimulation assay to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed was normal. Immunoglobulin panel showed a mildly decreased IgM of 25 mg/dL, but normal IgA and IgG. Vaccine titers demonstrated protective titers to 12/22 pneumococcus serotypes, varicella, diphtheria, mumps, rubella, and rubeola. Repeat full T cell subsets 6 weeks later revealed marked improvement in lymphocyte counts with CD3 3083/microL, CD4 2101/microL, CD8 839/microL, CD19 225/microL, and CD1656/microL. A primary immunodeficiency genetic panel was ordered and positive for a heterozygous SAMD9L c.1549T>C (p.Trp517Arg) mutation classified as a variant of unknown significance. Discussion(s): This patient's history of severe viral infections, ataxia, thrombocytopenia, and severe transient lymphopenia during infection is suggestive of a SAM9DL gain of function mutation. Protein modeling done by the laboratory suggests this missense mutation would affect protein structure. The mutation found has been observed in individuals with thrombocytopenia. This case highlights the importance of immunophenotyping both during acute illness and once recovered.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc.

7-year outcomes of the first successful pediatric bilateral hand transplantation

Introduction: The purpose of this case report is to describe the 7-year functional outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the first successful pediatric bilateral hand transplantation. The report focuses on activity and participation. The authors suggest assessment methods that can be applied to future cases. Method(s): The child underwent quadrimembral amputation at age two years and received bilateral hand allografts at age eight. Rehabilitation included biomechanical, neurorehabilitation, and occupational approaches in acute and outpatient settings. Therapist observed outcomes assessments, patientreported and parent-reported outcome questionnaires were repeated over a 7-year period. Result(s): At 7-years post transplantation, the adolescent and his mother reported a high level of satisfaction with the outcomes. Therapist observed assessments showed the adolescent achieved functional gross motor dexterity with each upper extremity. Although left gross and fine dexterity was superior to the right at all timepoints observed, the adolescent used his right upper extremity as dominant and incorporated both extremities as appropriate for bimanual tasks. The adolescent achieved modified independence to full independence with self-care activities. The adolescent participated in diverse activities with a high level of enjoyment. Participation was more diverse, social, and communitybased prior to and after the initial COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. At 7-years post transplantation when the adolescent was 15-years of age, the parent rated more instrumental activities of daily living as somewhat difficult. Discussion and Conclusion(s): Therapist observed outcomes assessments, patient-reported and parent-reported outcome questionnaires, showed the child had incorporated his hands into various activities, was completing daily activities independently, and HRQOL outcomes in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical domains were favorable. Most results were stable over time. The decrease in right hand dexterity scores might reflect small kinesiological changes in the right hand. Difficulty with some instrumental activities of daily living were likely due to new activities typical of child development for this now 15-year-old patient.

Evaluation of Factors Causing a Delay in Management and Hospital Stay in Diabetic Foot Amputation Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of different amputation levels in diabetic foot patients and the incidence of repetitive foot surgeries and evaluate the factors causing a delay in hospital stay and amputation of patients. METHODOLOGY: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau, Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. The study selected 375 participants from the clinic's daily patient inflow from October 2021 to March 2022 using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Those who had a delay in hospital stay and amputation were further followed up from May-October 2022. The chi-square test and Kruskal Wallis test (p-value <0.05) were used to correlate the effect of the level of lower limb amputation and the cause of delay in amputation using SPSS version 24.0. RESULT(S): Total 246(65.60%) were males and 129(34.40%) were females. Toe amputation was the most commonly seen amputation in 173(46.1%) participants. About 168(44.8%) patients had some in-hospital delay stay during their treatment. Preoperative hurdles (Uncontrolled RBS, Osteomyelitis, etc.) were the most common factor causing an in-hospital delay in 92(24.5%) patients. The level of amputation performed was found to be statistically significant with factors causing a delay in hospital stay through chi-square (p=0.003*) and Kruskal Wallis test H (2) statistic= 13.3, df = 3, H (2), P=0.004*). CONCLUSION(S): Diabetic foot is a frequent cause of amputation globally, majorly in developing countries like Pakistan. On-time provision of treatment to these patients can decline the global amputation rate due to diabetic foot ulcers.Copyright © 2023 Syeda Anjala Tahir.

The Effect of the Different Waves of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Outcome of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Objective: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are complications of diabetes mellitus. COVID-19 pandemic has massively impacted human health. We studied effect of COVID-19 on outcome of DFUs. Method(s): We recruited 483 people with DFU from June 2020-April 2022 (pandemic group) together with a matched group of 227 people with DFU from March 2019-March 2020 (pre-pandemic group). Matching was done with respect to glycemic control (Average HbA1c in pandemic group 9.15%;pre-pandemic group 8.92%), and renal status. Primary endpoint was outcome of ulcers- healed or undergone amputation. Primary outcome was further sub analyzed in the 3 waves of COVID-19 Secondary endpoint was healing of individual types of DFUs. Basic anthropometric data with site, nature and Wegner's grading of DFUs were collected. Diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy was done by monofilament testing and peripheral arterial disease by handheld Doppler and ABI. Standardized treatment protocol including glycemic control, infection control, debridement, dressing, offloading was provided. All patients were monitored for >6 months. Result(s): In pandemic cohort of 483 patients 323(66.9%) patients had healed ulcers, 70(14.5%) had minor amputation, 11(2,2%) had major amputation, 29(6%) lost to follow up, 22(4.6%) had not healed and 28 are in follow up (5.8%). Rate of healing of DFU in pandemic group was higher (66.9%) than control group (53.5%). Similarly, rate of amputation in pandemic group was less (16.7%) than pre-pandemic group (23.4%). Among healed ulcers in pandemic group, non-infected neuropathic ulcers healed better (77.8%;199/256) than other types (54.6%;124/227) [p< 0.00001]. Similarly, rate of amputation (major/minor) in ischemic and neuroischemic ulcers in pandemic group was more (32.3%;11/34) than other types (15.6%;70/449) [p= 0.011]. Rate of healing of foot ulcers in 1st wave was 65.4% (53/81), 2nd wave 75.2% (158/210), 3rd wave 58.3% (112/192). Neuropathic ulcers though less prevalent in first two waves (49.8%;145/291) than 3rd wave (57.8%;111/192) healing rate was more in first two (79.3%;115/145 vs 75.6%;84/111). [p=0.488 (statistically not significant]. Ischemic and neuroischemic ulcers were more in 3rd wave (7.8%;15/192) than first two waves (6.5%;19/291) and undergone more amputation (46.7%;7/15 vs 15.7%;3/19). [p=0.58 (statistically not significant;due to small sample size]. Discussion/Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic (mainly first two waves) accounted for travel restrictions contributing to better healing of neuropathic ulcers whereas ischemic and neuroischemic ulcers worsened and underwent more amputation as patients could not seek intervention. Conversely, in third wave withdrawal of COVID restrictions lead to worsening of DFUs leading to less healing and more amputation.Copyright © 2023

Diabetes-related major and minor amputation risk increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Along with significant case transmission, hospitalizations, and mortality experienced during the global Sars-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, there existed a disruption in the delivery of health care across multiple specialties. We studied the effect of the pandemic on inpatients with diabetic foot problems in a level-one trauma center in Central Ohio. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients necessitating a consultation by the foot and ankle surgery service were reviewed from the first 8 months of 2020. A total of 270 patients met the inclusion criteria and divided into pre-pandemic (n = 120) and pandemic groups (n = 150). Demographics, medical history, severity of current infection, and medical or surgical management were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The odds of undergoing any level of amputation was 10.8 times higher during the pandemic versus before the pandemic. The risk of major amputations (below-the-knee or higher) likewise increased with an odds ratio of 12.5 among all patients in the foot and ankle service during the pandemic. Of the patients undergoing any amputation, the odds for receiving a major amputation was 3.1 times higher than before the pandemic. Additionally, the severity of infections increased during the pandemic and a larger proportion of the cases were classified as emergent in the pandemic group compared to the pre-pandemic group. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of the pandemic on the health-care system has had a deleterious effect on people with diabetes-related foot problems resulting in more severe infections, more emergencies, and necessitating more amputations. When an amputation was performed, the likelihood it was a major amputation also increased.Editor's Note: This Original Article accompanies "Diabetes-Related Amputations: A Pandemic within a Pandemic," by Lee C. Rogers, DPM, Robert J. Snyder, DPM, and Warren S. Joseph, DPM, FIDSA, available at https://doi.org/10.7547/20-248.

Analysis of Specialized Care for Patients with Diabetic Foot Syndrome in St. Petersburg for 2010-2021

BACKGROUND: A decrease in the frequency of amputations due to diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is one of the parameters that determine the quality of medical care for patients with diabetes mellitus.AIM: Our aim was to study the indicators characterizing medical care for patients with lower limb pathology in diabetes mellitus in St. Petersburg from 2010 to 2021.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Annual reports on the treatment of patients with DFS in city hospitals specializing in the sur-gical treatment of DFS and in outpatient offices 'Diabetic foot >> (DFO) from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed.RESULTS: The average number of patients per year admitted to the DFO was 18,527 (34,440 visits). Proportion of patients with foot ulcers - 8,9%, with Charcot's arthropathy - less than 1%. Before 2020, the frequency of above the foot amputations decreased from 48.3% to 8.6%, hospital mortality - from 11.7 to 5.7%, the number of revascularizations increased from 37 to 642 per year. The increase in operational activity was not accompanied by a decrease in the frequency of amputations (59.3% in 2019). Of all amputations, 11.3% were patients referred from DFO. During the epidemic, the number of visits and patients admitted to the DFO decreased by 27,3% and 31%, respectively. The proportion of foot ulcers and the frequency of amputations have not changed. Inpatient care was characterized by a decrease in operational activity, a decrease in the availability of revascularization, a 2-fold increase in the proportion of high amputations and an increase in hospital mortality from 5.7% in 2019 to 14.9% in 2021. CONCLUSION: An analysis of the statistics of specialized care for patients with DFS over 12 years showed the reduction of the frequency of high amputations, but revealed an increase in the frequency of surgical interventions in DFS against the background of an almost unchanged proportion of amputations in the structure of all operations. Despite significant quan-titative indicators, the outpatient service seems to be insufficiently effective in reaching the target population. The negative impact of the epidemic has led to a significant increase in the frequency of high amputations and mortality.

Epidemiological study of major amputations of upper and lower limbs in France

Major amputation procedures are referenced in medical databases. Despite the existence of these data, no epidemiological follow-up for this condition exists. Amputation is the cause of permanent disability. Measuring its evolution and incidence rates could help improve care and outcomes. The objective of this study was to update epidemiological data by determining the evolution and incidence rates of major upper and lower limb amputations from 2011 to 2020, as well as to analyze the average length of stay for hospitalization according to procedures and regions from 2015 to 2019. This work is a retrospective study. It focuses on the analysis of the "Scansante.fr" database. The data were processed by descriptive analysis and statistical analysis. From 2011 to 2020, 1,616 acts of major amputations of the upper limb and 116,866 acts of major amputations of the lower limb were identified. Trans-humeral amputation and trans-tibial amputation were the most common amputations found for the upper limb and lower limb, respectively. New Aquitaine is the region with the highest average number of major amputations of the lower limb. The highest average rate of major amputations of the lower limb was found in the French Overseas Departments. The analysis of major amputations shows a general regressive trend for both the upper and lower limbs. Two main limitations guide the regression trend: the drop in the number of major amputation procedures between 2019 and 2020 corresponds to the health context of the Covid-19 pandemic, and some procedures are potentially underestimated because of the confidentiality criterion. The study of the incidence of amputation procedures is essential to understand and manage prevention and rehabilitation services in the French population. Level of Evidence: 5.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS

Impact of COVID-19 Crisis in the Management of Diabetic Foot Patients in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has a heavy burden on the approach of diabetic foot care worldwide. We aim to determine the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patients with diabetic foot (DF). Materials and methods This population-based cohort study included all patients diagnosed with the diabetic foot from 2019-2020 (pre-lockdown) and 2020-2021 (post-lockdown) in a tertiary center of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Results Among all the participants (n=358), a non-significant difference was found between amputation rate during and before the COVID-19 pandemic (P-value=0.0983). Also, it showed a significantly higher percentage of patients who had acute lower limb ischemia compared to those having it before the pandemic (P-value=0.029). Conclusions and relevance In conclusion, our study found that the COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with excess amputations along with mortality rate, as the management during the pandemic showed adequate diabetic foot care by improving the prevention methods through hospital protocol restrictions and facilitating access to virtual clinics.

Peripheral Artery Disease Causes More Harm to Patients than COVID-19

Background: To optimize our strategic planning, we aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) at our tertiary care hospital. Method(s): We performed a prospective single-center cohort study at a large tertiary care hospital. In total, 1,210 patients have been included: 611 patients admitted between March and December 2020, compared with retrospective data from 599 patients from the same period in 2019. Result(s): Emergency admissions involving patients with advanced stage PAD increased significantly during the pandemic period of 2020 (n = 79;13%) compared with the same period in 2019 (n = 50;8%;p < 0.0098). This increase was accompanied by increased limb amputations performed during first lockdown (n = 14;15%), post-lockdown (n = 26;6%), and second lockdown 2020 (n = 3;6%) compared with respective time periods in 2019 (n = 3;2%;p < 0.0003, n = 5;1%;p < 0.0004, and n = 2;4%;p = 1). The 30-day mortality rate of patients with PAD increased to 3% during the COVID-19 pandemic period of 2020 compared with 2% in the same period in 2019. No SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed among patients with PAD during the observation period. Conclusion(s): Delayed treatment for PAD due to changes in clinical practice protocols caused more harm to PAD patients than SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strict lockdown protocols adversely affected the care of PAD patients, with persisting aftereffects, including increased emergency admission with unsuccessful revascularization attempts leading to limb amputation even after the peak of the pandemic had passed. We believe that creating standards to simplify patient access to health care facilities, and providing continuous care to PAD patients, even in times of global pandemics, will prevent the unfavorable outcomes observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Contemporary Approach to Diabetic Foot Disease.

Diabetic foot disease is a severe invalidiza-ting complication of diabetes mellitus, which is associated with significant comorbidity, reduced life expectancy and quality of life of the affected person, and with several fold increased burden for health care system as well. It is the leading cause for non-traumatic lower limb amputations. According to its features, diabetic foot disease is a heterogeneous condition. In its pathogenesis are combined metabolic, hemodynamic, mechanical, infectious and genetic factors. There is no single evaluation scale for this diabetic complication, but are present different classifications, which account for neurological, vascular and structural damage, inflammatory state, concomitant diseases, previous ulcers and amputations. In this way, risk category of each patient is defined, which determines the therapeutical plan, the need for hospitalization, the prognosis and the follow-up interval. Due to its multifactorial aspects, diabetic foot disease is approached in interdisciplinary manner. Integrated foot care by highly skilled specialists in combination with structured patient education about self-care and self-monitoring, could reduce diabetic foot wounds with up to 85%. It is also estimated that in 85% of cases lower limb amputations among people withdiabetes are pre-ceded by ulcers, which highlights the significance of the aforementioned measures. During COVID-19 pandemic there are additional risks for worsening of people with diabetic foot. In conclusion, in most cases diabetic foot disease and its consequences are potentially preventable, which determines the paramount importance of revising and timely applying the latest guidelines on its diagnosis and management.Copyright © 2021 Medical Information Center. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Approach to Diabetic Foot Disease.

Diabetic foot disease is a severe invalidiza-ting complication of diabetes mellitus, which is associated with significant comorbidity, reduced life expectancy and quality of life of the affected person, and with several fold increased burden for health care system as well. It is the leading cause for non-traumatic lower limb amputations. According to its features, diabetic foot disease is a heterogeneous condition. In its pathogenesis are combined metabolic, hemodynamic, mechanical, infectious and genetic factors. There is no single evaluation scale for this diabetic complication, but are present different classifications, which account for neurological, vascular and structural damage, inflammatory state, concomitant diseases, previous ulcers and amputations. In this way, risk category of each patient is defined, which determines the therapeutical plan, the need for hospitalization, the prognosis and the follow-up interval. Due to its multifactorial aspects, diabetic foot disease is approached in interdisciplinary manner. Integrated foot care by highly skilled specialists in combination with structured patient education about self-care and self-monitoring, could reduce diabetic foot wounds with up to 85%. It is also estimated that in 85% of cases lower limb amputations among people withdiabetes are pre-ceded by ulcers, which highlights the significance of the aforementioned measures. During COVID-19 pandemic there are additional risks for worsening of people with diabetic foot. In conclusion, in most cases diabetic foot disease and its consequences are potentially preventable, which determines the paramount importance of revising and timely applying the latest guidelines on its diagnosis and management.Copyright © 2021 Medical Information Center. All rights reserved.

Amputation of arm after arterial thrombosis related to COVID-19 infection

In this case report, a 75-year-old unvaccinated female patient presented with hypoxaemia, and she was admitted to an intensive care unit. After four days her left hand was discoloured blue, and fibrin D-dimer was elevated. An angiogram showed occlusion in the arteria radialis at the level of the bifurcature. Thrombolysis had no effect, and the patient's left arm was amputated above elbow level. COVID-19 is still a present problem worldwide, and it is important to be alert and aware of the risk of serious thromboembolic complications when treating unvaccinated patients.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIALIZED CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT SYNDROME IN ST. PETERSBURG FOR 2010-2021.

BACKGROUND: A decrease in the frequency of amputations due to diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is one of the parameters that determine the quality of medical care for patients with diabetes mellitus. AIM: Our aim was to study the indicators characterizing medical care for patients with lower limb pathology in diabetes mellitus in St. Petersburg from 2010 to 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Annual reports on the treatment of patients with DFS in city hospitals specializing in the surgical treatment of DFS and in outpatient offices <<Diabetic foot>> (DFO) from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed. RESULT(S): The average number of patients per year admitted to the DFO was 18,527 (34,440 visits). Proportion of patients with foot ulcers - 8,9%, with Charcot's arthropathy - less than 1%. Before 2020, the frequency of above the foot amputations decreased from 48.3% to 8.6%, hospital mortality - from 11.7 to 5.7%, the number of revascularizations increased from 37 to 642 per year. The increase in operational activity was not accompanied by a decrease in the frequency of amputations (59.3% in 2019). Of all amputations, 11.3% were patients referred from DFO. During the epidemic, the number of visits and patients admitted to the DFO decreased by 27,3% and 31%, respectively. The proportion of foot ulcers and the frequency of amputations have not changed. Inpatient care was characterized by a decrease in operational activity, a decrease in the availability of revascularization, a 2-fold increase in the proportion of high amputations and an increase in hospital mortality from 5.7% in 2019 to 14.9% in 2021. CONCLUSION(S): An analysis of the statistics of specialized care for patients with DFS over 12 years showed the reduction of the frequency of high amputations, but revealed an increase in the frequency of surgical interventions in DFS against the background of an almost unchanged proportion of amputations in the structure of all operations. Despite significant quantitative indicators, the outpatient service seems to be insufficiently effective in reaching the target population. The negative impact of the epidemic has led to a significant increase in the frequency of high amputations and mortality.Copyright © Endocrinology Research Centre, 2022.

Utilizing Mobile Diabetic Foot Clinics To Provide Comprehensive Care To Patients Experiencing Homelessness

Introduction and Objectives: Limited healthcare access and resource inequities pose significant barriers to care, all of which have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. DFUs represent an especially challenging medical problem to prevent and treat due to the resource intensive care required. We sought to evaluate the feasibility of multidisciplinary, mobile, DFU outreach clinics to improve access to care. Method(s): Our clinic model focused on creating mobile diabetic foot clinics staffed by volunteer clinical providers who specialize in Vascular Surgery, Diabetes, and Podiatry. We recruited volunteer healthcare providers from an academic medical center. We partnered with local community centers with established programs providing services to unhoused individuals. Result(s): Between June 2020 and August 2022, a total of 130 unhoused individuals were seen at four mobile clinics set up at different locations. Diabetic foot care was provided by volunteers from seven departments: Endocrinology/Diabetes, Vascular Surgery and Vascular Lab, Podiatry, Addiction Medicine, Smoking Cessation, and Financial. On average, 32 healthcare provider volunteers participated at each clinic. Services provided include: vitals, blood glucose, HgA1c, lipid panel testing, ankle-brachial index, podiatric exam, wound care, medical education, COVID vaccination/booster, insurance enrollment, and new socks and shoes. Of 130 unhoused patients, 29% had hypertension (38), 34% had abnormal ABI (44), and 14% had diabetes (18). Fifteen patients were further identified as high risk for developing DFU-associated amputation (12%) and were provided with ambulatory follow-ups. Conclusion(s): In our pilot experience, it is feasible to provide consistent comprehensive DFU care through mobile outreach clinics. By using the infrastructure of partner organizations and healthcare expertise of an academic center, our clinics could integrate into existing community services. [Formula presented]Copyright © 2022

Acute limb ischaemia: not an uncommon complication of COVID-19 infection

A new variant of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) causing acute respiratory distress in humans was identified for the first time in 2019, in Wuhan, China. One of the many complications of infection with this coronavirus is hypercoagulopathy, resulting in acute thrombosis;often leading to acute limb ischaemia. Herein, we report 20 cases of COVID-19 with peripheral arterial thrombosis involving either upper or lower limbs. Some patients underwent vascular procedures and most had to undergo amputation at some level. All the cases (n=20) were referred to us during the 8-month period June 2020 to March 2021. The most common age group was between 51 and 60 years, of whom 80% were males;all the patients had diabetes. The right lower limb was most affected (50%);15 patients underwent embolectomy. Twenty-five per cent of patients presented with wet gangrene. One patient with upper limb thrombosis recovered after embolectomy and did not require any amputation. Eighty-five per cent of patients underwent some form of amputation and the mortality rate was 10%. Arterial thrombosis is one complication patients may develop during COVID-19 illness, which may affect the outcome. Patients with comorbid conditions like diabetes are at higher risk of developing arterial thrombosis during COVID-19 infection. Susceptibility to coagulopathy may continue even after patient discharge and it is important that both patients and treating physicians are aware of this limb-threatening complication and seek early medical attention.

Melanized (dematiaceous) fungal infections simulating skin cancer in African organ transplant recipients

Fungi are the most frequent skin infections in organ transplant recipients (OTRs) and usually present as superficial mycoses. Deeper infections are much less common, potentially more serious and the incidence is higher in the first few months post-transplant. We report two African OTRs with deep fungal infections caused by dematiaceous (melanized, pigmented or black) fungi, who both presented with suspected skin malignancies. A 60-year-old Nigerian man developed a painful, ulcerated, amelanotic, bleeding nodule on his right fourth toe 2 months after renal transplantation. Clinical differential diagnoses included Kaposi sarcoma (KS), amelanotic acral melanoma and subungual squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, histology showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, extensive mixed inflammation, multinucleated giant cells and pigmented septate hyphae with rounded 'budding' forms. Periodic acid-Schiff, Grocott and Masson-Fontana stains were positive, and Alcian blue stain was negative, consistent with infection by a dematiaceous fungus. Fungal 18S polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive and culture identified Nigrograna mackinnonii. Treatment with oral itraconazole was supervised virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. After 6 months there was minimal response and he opted for amputation of the digit. A 61-year-old Nigerian man presented 2 months after renal transplantation with a 2-cm diameter nodule on his left thigh at the site of a previous burn. This failed to respond to antibiotics. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of possible malignancy, but surgery was deferred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two months later the lesion was 5 cm in diameter and verrucous with an 8-cm sessile, purplish plaque on his right forearm. Atypical KS, lymphoma and chronic burns-associated SCC were all considered. However, histology from both lesions was similar to the first patient. Fungal culture and 18S PCR confirmed infection with the dematiaceous fungus Alternaria alternata. At his request, the right thigh lesion was excised. The lesion on his forearm has partially responded to 8 months of ongoing oral itraconazole. In our African OTR cohort, KS is more common than deep fungal infection. However, despite this suspicion of skin malignancy, both patients had phaeohyphomycoses caused by dematiaceous fungi. Characterized by the presence of melanin in their cell walls, > 130 species of these plant pathogens and soil saprophytes are implicated in human disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Although localized skin diseases (phaeohyphomycoses, chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma) are the most common manifestations, rare disseminated, central nervous system and pulmonary infections may prove fatal. Although uncommon, deep fungal infection should be considered in atypical skin lesions in OTRs;histology, tissue culture and fungal PCR are critical to confirming this diagnosis.

The Impact of the Covid19 Pandemic on Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

Background The impact of COVID-19 on major adverse lower extremity (MALE) and cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is unknown. Methods Using the VA Corporate Data Warehouse, Veterans with PAD were identified. Rates of MALE (amputation or lower extremity revascularization [LER]), and MACE (death, MI, or coronary revascularization) were assessed in pre-pandemic (3/11/2019-3/10/2020), early-pandemic (3/11/2020-3/10/2021), and late-pandemic (3/11/2021-3/10/2022) periods. Outcomes were compared using Kaplan-Meier method. Results Of 418,042 Veterans (mean age 72 yrs) with PAD, 76.7% were white and 96.8% male. Furthermore, 89.2% had HTN, 60.4% diabetes, 49.3% CAD, 21.6% heart failure, and 20.5% atrial fibrillation. From 3/11/2019 to 3/10/2022, 3,100 had amputation, 8,187 had LER, & 2,229 had MACE. Amputation rates declined and continued to decline in early- and late-pandemic period (306 to 268 to 235;p<0.001;rates per 100k). Rates of LER declined initially and stabilized in late-pandemic period (951 to 587 to 609;p < 0.001;rates per 100k). MACE did not change significantly. (215 to 168 to 202;p<0.001;rates per 100k). Conclusion Amputation rates in Veterans with PAD did not increase despite a clinically significant decline in LER. Given the known efficacy of noninvasive therapies in PAD, these data suggest that there is a need to re-evaluate appropriate indications for LER and amputation. [Formula presented]Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation