Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Clinical characteristics in relation to final amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers: a prospective study of healing below or above the ankle in 187 patients

Larsson, J ; Agardh, Carl-David LU ; Apelqvist, Jan LU and Stenström, Anders LU (1995) In Foot & Ankle International 16(2). p.69-74
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics in relation to final amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. In a prospective series, 187 consecutively presenting patients were investigated. From admission until final outcome, the patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team both as in- and out-patients. All the patients had one or more signs of neuropathy and 171 had evidence of peripheral vascular disease. Healing with an amputation below the ankle occurred in 74 patients, 88 patients healed with an amputation above the ankle, and 25 patients died unhealed. Amputation above the ankle was associated with high age, living in an institution, a limited walking capacity, cerebrovascular disease,... (More)
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics in relation to final amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. In a prospective series, 187 consecutively presenting patients were investigated. From admission until final outcome, the patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team both as in- and out-patients. All the patients had one or more signs of neuropathy and 171 had evidence of peripheral vascular disease. Healing with an amputation below the ankle occurred in 74 patients, 88 patients healed with an amputation above the ankle, and 25 patients died unhealed. Amputation above the ankle was associated with high age, living in an institution, a limited walking capacity, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, and a low hemoglobin level. Amputation below the ankle was associated with diabetes diagnosis before 30 years of age and diabetes duration. In conclusion, older age, history of cerebrovascular disease and low hemoglobin level are associated with above ankle amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. However, level selection cannot be based upon these factors only, since some patients at high age, with cerebrovascular disease or with a low hemoglobin value, healed with an amputation below the ankle. None of these factors per se should be taken as a cause to choose a primary amputation above the ankle, unless amputation is supported by the total clinical picture, including local characteristics, such as type and localization of ulcer, and signs of peripheral vascular disease. More attention should be paid to biological than to chronological age. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Foot & Ankle International
volume
16
issue
2
pages
69 - 74
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:7767449
  • scopus:0028899318
ISSN
1944-7876
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Unit on Vascular Diabetic Complications (013241510), Department of Orthopaedics (Lund) (013028000), Diabetes and Endocrinology (013241530)
id
619701f8-a4bb-42a9-8601-6e991bf85de5 (old id 1109158)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:45:44
date last changed
2024-01-07 19:32:18
@article{619701f8-a4bb-42a9-8601-6e991bf85de5,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics in relation to final amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. In a prospective series, 187 consecutively presenting patients were investigated. From admission until final outcome, the patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team both as in- and out-patients. All the patients had one or more signs of neuropathy and 171 had evidence of peripheral vascular disease. Healing with an amputation below the ankle occurred in 74 patients, 88 patients healed with an amputation above the ankle, and 25 patients died unhealed. Amputation above the ankle was associated with high age, living in an institution, a limited walking capacity, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, and a low hemoglobin level. Amputation below the ankle was associated with diabetes diagnosis before 30 years of age and diabetes duration. In conclusion, older age, history of cerebrovascular disease and low hemoglobin level are associated with above ankle amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. However, level selection cannot be based upon these factors only, since some patients at high age, with cerebrovascular disease or with a low hemoglobin value, healed with an amputation below the ankle. None of these factors per se should be taken as a cause to choose a primary amputation above the ankle, unless amputation is supported by the total clinical picture, including local characteristics, such as type and localization of ulcer, and signs of peripheral vascular disease. More attention should be paid to biological than to chronological age.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, J and Agardh, Carl-David and Apelqvist, Jan and Stenström, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1944-7876}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{69--74}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Foot & Ankle International}},
  title        = {{Clinical characteristics in relation to final amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers: a prospective study of healing below or above the ankle in 187 patients}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{1995}},
}