title: Limb salvage for veterans with diabetes: to care for him who has borne the battle.
abstract: Diabetes is a leading cause of nontraumatic lower limb amputations. Unfortunately, even with advances in medical management and surgical techniques, the 5-year rate of survival after lower limb amputation is poor. This article discusses the incidence of diabetes and its impact on the development of ulceration and lower limb amputation. This article also discusses the factors impacting wound healing, and the services provided by the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston, Texas to help prevent lower limb amputation.
authors: Rehabilitation Care Line, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Linda.Gibson4@va.gov
authors: Linda Wills
authors: LW
authors: Gibson
authors: Ashraf
authors: A
authors: Abbas
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data