Diabetes and foot burns

The incidence of diabetes and diabetic foot burns is increasing worldwide. In the present study, we surveyed frequency, morbidity and mortality of diabetic foot burn patients in our centre. The study was a cross-sectional survey with one-year follow up of our adult diabetic patients with lower extremity burns. Data on demographics, cause of burn, time from injury to hospital, TBSA, presence of neuropathy and diabetic foot, treatment plan for controlling blood sugar, smoking, infection, morbidity, co-morbid diseases, amputation and mortality were gathered from patient files. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 21 software. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Of the 34,300 burn patients seen in a year, 2096 were admitted according to ABA criteria. 47 patients had diabetic foot burn. Half of them had diabetic neuropathy. 48.9% had type I diabetes and 51.1% had type II. 70.2% were male, 29.8% were female. Mean +/- SD age was 58 +/- 14 years; 14 patients were smokers and 40 had co-morbid diseases. Hypertension frequency was 44%, ischemic heart disease 25%, CVA 8.5% and renal failure 6.4%. Half of the patients had uncontrolled blood sugar. Mean +/- SD delay in admission was 2.5±1.5 (days). Mean +/- SD TBSA was 2.4 +/- 1.4%. Mean +/- SD length of stay was 11.4±6.1 (days). 8.5% underwent amputation and there were no deaths. Diabetic foot burn patients delay seeking medical attention, have a longer length of stay, more complications and more amputations than other burn patients (compared with our previous study on burn patients). Prevention and training programs are highly needed to prevent foot burns.