title: Benchmark analysis on diabetics at high risk for lower extremity amputation.
abstract: After the 1990 establishment of a multidisciplinary foot salvage clinic, 1346 diabetic patients, at high risk for the development of foot ulcers and eventual lower limb amputation, were followed for 4 years. Of the 224 high-risk patients admitted to the hospital, 74 amputations (5.5%) of all or part of a lower limb were performed. Patients undergoing amputation were younger, more severely ill, and required more frequent hospitalizations because of greater organ system involvement. They were also more likely to be institutionalized after discharge. Overall, patients with long-standing adult-onset diabetes, identified as at high risk for foot ulcer development, have a substantially increased risk for lower limb amputation, multiple organ system failure, hospitalization, and institutionalization than do diabetic patients as a whole. Clinical benchmarking facilitates the identification and reduction of unnecessary variations in patient care practices. Here, a formal benchmark analysis provides the current outcome expectations for amputation rates and co-morbidities in patients with diabetes who are classified as at high risk for lower extremity amputation. Management of these patients in a structured, multidisciplinary foot salvage clinic, augmentation of baseline services, and preliminary benchmark data may provide a standard for the measurement of therapeutic interventions that improve patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pinzur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stuck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pocius
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trout
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vrbos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics; D012307:Risk Factors