Toe and flow: essential components and structure of the amputation prevention team.
At the end of an anatomical peninsula, the foot in diabetes is prone to short- and long-term complications involving neuropathy, vasculopathy, and infection. Effective management requires an interdisciplinary effort focusing on this triad. Herein, we describe the key factors leading to foot complications and the critical skill sets required to assemble a team to care for them. Although specific attention is given to a conjoined model involving podiatric medicine and vascular surgery, the so-called toe and flow model, we further outline three separate programmatic models of care--basic, intermediate, and center of excellence--that can be implemented in the developed and developing world.
Rogers
Lee C
LC
Amputation Prevention Center, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Los Angeles, CA 91405, USA. Lee.C.Rogers@gmail.com
Andros
George
G
Caporusso
Joseph
J
Harkless
Lawrence B
LB
Mills
Joseph L
JL
Armstrong
David G
DG
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*