title: Management in high-risk patients.
abstract: Injuries to the foot and ankle are often missed or underestimated in patients with polytrauma and are a source of long-term limitations. Injures below the knee are among the highest causes for unemployment, longer sick leave, more pain, more follow-up appointments, and decreased overall outcome. As mortalities decrease for patients with polytrauma a greater emphasis on timely diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle injuries is indicated. Geriatric patients represent nearly one-quarter of trauma admissions in the United States. This article discusses perioperative management and complications associated with foot and ankle injuries in polytrauma, and in diabetic and geriatric patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy Hospital, Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, 1515 Locust Street, #350 Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA. Electronic address: burnsp@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy Hospital, Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, 1515 Locust Street, #350 Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
authors.forename: Pete
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Highlander
authors.affiliation: Legacy Medical Group - Foot and Ankle, 2800 North Vancouver Street, Suite #130, Portland, OR 97229.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Shinabarger
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Charcot; Diabetes; Elderly; Fracture; Neuropathy; Osteoporotic; Polytrauma