Reducing the rate of amputations in acute diabetic foot infections

Cleve Clin J Med. 2006 Jul;73(7):679-83. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.73.7.679.

Abstract

Many older diabetic patients present to the emergency room with limb-threatening foot complications, and may at the same time need attention to life-threatening endocrine, cardiac, or renal complications. To better serve the elderly veteran population at our institution, we designed a multidisciplinary, algorithmic approach that links the podiatry and medicine services to facilitate appropriate referral, admission, and management, with the ultimate goal of reducing the rate of amputations.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Amputation, Surgical / statistics & numerical data*
  • Amputation, Surgical / trends
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Diabetic Foot / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Patient Care Team
  • Podiatry / methods
  • Wound Infection / therapy*