Diabetic foot management: multidisciplinary approach for advanced lesion rescue

The diabetic foot is a complication of diabetes affecting 15% of diabetics in their lives. It is associated to diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease and its incidence has increased. The ulceration is the initial cause of a dramatic process leading, if not correctly treated, to amputations. Both neuropathy, neuro-ischemia and infections have a role in determining healing or worsening of the lesions and 85% of all amputations in diabetic patients are preceded by a foot ulceration deteriorating to a severe gangrene or infection. The different causative agents and the different clinical presentations of diabetic foot ask a multidisciplinary approach in order to address treatments to the final goals, the prevention of the amputations and the maintenance of a functional foot able with weight-bearing ability. Many professional figures, diabetologists, surgeons (both general and vascular and orthopedics), interventional radiologists, infectious diseases specialists, specialized nurses, podiatrists, orthotic technicians, are called to apply their knowledges to the diabetic patients affected by diabetic foot in a virtuous circle leading to reach the goals, with the imperative action of the multidisciplinary team. The so organized center will allow both a correct and rapid diagnosis, the use in ambulatorial environments of modern tools, or the hospitalization in multitasking wards, in which all the complications and the necessary treatments are possible, both in emergencies or in elective way, considering both revascularizations and surgery.