title: Toe amputation in the diabetic patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We considered whether it is more practical to amputate the toe of a diabetic patient with osteomyelitis and good circulation or to treat the patient with antibiotics for a prolonged period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a retrospective study of 141 diabetic patients who had undergone a toe-ray amputation for proven or documented osteomyelitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ankle/brachial index of all patients was 0.81 (range, 0.68 to 1.14); the mean functional days lost on antibiotic therapy was 39 (range, 7 to 84 days). The cost of 6 to 8 weeks of preoperative antibiotic therapy was $900 to $2240 (mean, $1440).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic patients with good circulation and osteomyelitis of the toe may benefit from prompt toe amputation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kerstein
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Welter
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gahtan
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014034:Toes / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents