title: Diabetic limb salvage: too much of a good thing?
abstract: Diabetic foot complications exact a significant toll on patients specifically and the health care system in general. Most data suggest that limb preservation generally results in a higher quality (and quantity) of life for the patient and lower overall direct and indirect costs. However, when focusing on a specific patient, significant questions remain. The most significant being: how much effort is too much? The purpose of this manuscript is to present a case that explores this issue.
authors.affiliation: The Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA. luis@luisleonmd.com
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pacanowski
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ranellone
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003646:Debridement; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011859:Radiography; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents