title: Predictors of major lower limb amputation among type II diabetic patients admitted for diabetic foot problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common cause of amputations in Malaysia. This study aimed to identify the predictive factors for major lower limb amputation among patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) who were admitted to a hospital, in order to reduce its likelihood.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involved 218 patients with T2DM who were admitted to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Malaysia, for diabetic foot problems from June 2011 to July 2012. A form was developed to document the patients' profiles, comorbidities, complications, investigations, treatment and clinical outcomes. The predictors for major lower limb amputations were determined using univariate and stepwise logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 31 patients underwent major lower limb amputations (25 transtibial, 6 transfemoral). The following factors were found to be associated with the incidence of major lower limb amputations: T2DM duration ≥ 10 years, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, presentation with gangrene, diabetic foot conditions of Wagner grade 4 or 5, and necrotising fasciitis. Patients who underwent major amputations had significantly lower haemoglobin and albumin levels, and higher total white blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and C-reactive protein, urea and creatinine levels. However, only T2DM duration ≥ 10 years, positive bacterial culture and albumin levels were significant on stepwise logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T2DM duration ≥ 10 years, positive bacterial culture and low albumin levels were found to be significant predictive factors for major lower limb amputation among patients with T2DM admitted for diabetic foot problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nazri Mohd
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jamalludin Ab
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Hafiz
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zulkifly
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Aminudin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Che-Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kamarul Ariffin
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Fadzli
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sulong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic, Tawau Hospital, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vijayasingham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: amputation; diabetes mellitus; diabetic foot; lower limb; type II