Angiosome-targeted lower limb revascularization for ischemic foot wounds: systematic review and meta-analysis

The efficacy of angiosome-targeted revascularization to achieve healing of ischemic tissue lesions of the foot and limb salvage is controversial. This issue has been investigated in this meta-analysis.

A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of data on angiosome-targeted lower limb revascularization for ischemic tissue lesions of the foot were performed.

Nine studies reported on data of interest. No randomized controlled study was available. There were 715 legs treated by direct revascularization according to the angiosome principle and 575 legs treated by indirect revascularization. The prevalence of diabetes was >70% in each study group and three studies included only patients with diabetes. The risk of unhealed wound was significantly lower after direct revascularization (HR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.52-0.8, I2 0%, four studies included) compared with indirect revascularization. Direct revascularization was also associated with significantly lower risk of major amputation (HR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26-0.75, I2 62%, eight studies included). Pooled limb salvage rates after direct and indirect revascularization were at 1 year 86.2% vs. 77.8% and at 2 years 84.9% vs. 70.1%, respectively. The analysis of three studies reporting only on patients with diabetes confirmed the benefit of direct revascularization in terms of limb salvage (HR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.31-0.75, I2 0%).

The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that, when feasible, direct revascularization of the foot angiosome affected by ischemic tissue lesions may improve wound healing and limb salvage rates compared with indirect revascularization. Further studies of better quality and adjusted for differences between the study groups are needed to confirm the present findings.