The impact of a podiatric lead limb preservation team on disease outcomes and risk prediction in the diabetic lower extremity: a retrospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
We used a model of lower-extremity ulceration to determine the impact of a podiatric lead limb preservation team on identified relationships among risk factors, predictors of ulceration, amputation, and clinical outcomes of lower-extremity disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
A total of 485 patients with diabetes mellitus were randomly selected from the diabetic population and included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were then stratified into two groups: those who received specialty podiatric medical care and those who did not. Data covering a 5-year period were collected using electronic medical records and chart abstraction to capture detailed treatment characteristics, ulcer status, and surgical outcomes.


RESULTS
Overall, the frequencies of inpatient and outpatient encounters and the durations of hospital stays were significantly greater with increasing wound depth and in the presence of infection. In addition, the overall ulcer incidence was greater in patients with callus (34.3% versus 10.3%, P < .0001) with and without neuropathy (20.4% and 4.1%, P < .0001). Among patients treated in a specialty multidiscipline podiatric medical setting, the proportion of all amputations that were "minor" was significantly increased (33.7% versus 67.3%, P = .0006), and survival was significantly improved (19.5% versus 7.7%, P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Early identification of individuals at increased risk for lower-extremity ulceration and subsequent referral for advanced multidiscipline podiatric medical specialty care may decrease rates of ulceration and proximal amputation and improve survival in patients with diabetes mellitus who are at high risk for ulceration and limb loss.
Driver
Vickie R
VR
Limb Preservation Service, Department of Vascular Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA. vickie.driver@bmc.org
Goodman
Russell A
RA
Fabbi
Matteo
M
French
Michael A
MA
Andersen
Charles A
CA
D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002145:Callosities / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy