The septic foot in patients with diabetes

Sixty-five lower-extremity amputations were performed as a result of sepsis in diabetic patients during a 3-year period. Chronic plantar ulcer was the most frequent cause of infection. Other causes of infection included ischemic gangrene, trauma, and web space fissures. Advanced ischemia was infrequent; only 21 (32.3%) had ankle-brachial indices (ABI) less than 0.5. Eight (23.5%) deaths and 12 (35.3%) stump failures followed 34 amputations where the stump was closed, compared with no deaths and 4 (12.9%) stump failures when open amputations were done (p less than 0.02). Partial foot amputations with aggressive local debridement resulted in healing in 10 (71.4%) of 14 cases with revision or grafting. Guillotine transmalleolar amputation is advised when foot salvage is not possible, because only 1 (5.9%) of 17 such procedures could not be revised to the below-knee (B-K) level, whereas 8 (33.3%) of 24 definitive, closed B-K amputations were unsuccessful (p less than 0.02). Infections were polymicrobial, with 5.8 bacterial isolates and 2.3 anaerobes recovered per patient. Anaerobic antibiotic coverage, however, failed to alter outcome. Sepsis, often without advanced ischemia, is an important cause of limb loss in patients with diabetes. Open amputations are recommended, with foot salvage possible in many cases.