Recurrent admissions for diabetic foot complications.
Diabetic foot complications are a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Patients who undergo recurrent admissions for the same diabetic foot problems represent a difficult subgroup to treat. From July 2007 to June 2008, there were 38 such patients who were admitted recurrently. Eighteen patients (47%) were re-admitted because of previous refusal of surgical treatment. Eighteen patients (47%) received treatment as necessary but were still readmitted for recurrent infection at the same wound site. Assessment of patients' compliance to outpatient treatment was found to be generally lacking. As a significant proportion were re-admitted because of previous refusal of surgery, a trained counselor may be suitable in counselling patients for debridement or amputation surgery.


BACKGROUND
Diabetic foot, complications, ulcer, abscess, amputation.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
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Ang
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
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Lim