[Foot- and ankle trauma in a diabetic patient]

If confronted with a neuropathic patient with an acute foot-ankle trauma, including fracture, this patient is by definition Eichenholtz stage 0. This is of major importance for the treatment. Whereas the surgical handling of fractures does not differ from ordinary fracture treatment, the subsequent treatment of sprains and fractures with immobilisation and a non-weight bearing period is significantly prolonged, frequently doubled, in diabetic patients. Follow-up includes frequent ambulatory controls including X-rays. If the neuroarthropathy progresses, the period of treatment is adjusted accordingly.