[Reduced frequency of amputation in diabetic patients]

The number of major amputations performed for vascular disease in Bispebjerbx Hospital, Copenhagen, has decreased from 122 to 29 per year during the period 1981 to 1994. In diabetic patients the frequency decreased from 25.5/100,000 to 5.5/100,000, i.e. a reduction of 78 percent, and in non diabetics it decreased from 42.2/100,000 to 14.6/100,000, i.e. a reduction of 65 percent. During the period vascular surgery has become a surgical specialty (1983), bypass to infra-popliteal arteries (from 1988) and graft surveillance by colour duplex scanning (from 1983) has become routine and in 1993 a diabetic foot center was established. Initial experience with a diabetic foot center in a vascular surgery unit is reported.