Foot problems in the diabetic transplant recipient

Diabetic transplant recipients are at a high risk for foot pathology leading to amputation. This retrospective study from 1/85 to 2/95 examines the risk of foot complications in a population (n = 340) of diabetic renal and combined renal/pancreas transplant recipients. All groups suffered high lower extremity amputation and foot fracture rates. Patients with better circulation and protective sensation intact fared better. Smoking had a profoundly negative effect on the amputation rate as did an amputation prior to the transplant. Patients with pretransplant dialysis were at a higher risk for post-transplant amputation. Concomitant pancreas transplant did not in general significantly affect the risk of amputation or fracture. Females had almost twice the fracture rate of males.