History of the team approach to amputation prevention: pioneers and milestones

This historical perspective highlights some of the pioneers, milestones, teams, and system changes that have had a major impact on the management of the diabetic foot during the past 100 years. In 1934, American diabetologist Elliott P. Joslin noted that mortality from diabetic coma had fallen from 60% to 5% after the introduction of insulin, yet deaths from diabetic gangrene of the lower extremity had risen significantly. He believed that diabetic gangrene was preventable. His remedy was a team approach that included foot care, diet, exercise, prompt treatment of foot infections, and specialized surgical care.

The history of a team approach to management of the diabetic foot chronicles the rise of a new health profession, Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, as well as the emergence of the specialty of Vascular Surgery. The partnership between the diabetologist, vascular surgeon, and podiatrist is a natural one. The complementary skills and knowledge of each can improve limb salvage and functional outcomes. Comprehensive multidisciplinary foot care programs have been shown to increase quality of care and reduce amputation rates by 36% to 86%. The development of distal revascularization techniques to restore pulsatile blood flow to the foot has also been a major advancement.

Diabetic foot patients are among the most complex and vulnerable of all patient populations. Specialized diabetic foot clinics of the 21st century should be multidisciplinary and equipped to coordinate diagnosis, off-loading, and preventive care; perform revascularization procedures; aggressively treat infections; and manage medical comorbidities.