Search

Objectives The incidence of minor amputation may vary significantly, and determinants of minor amputation have not been studied systematically. We evaluated minor amputation rate, the determinants of minor amputation and differences in amputation rate between European centres. Methods In the Eurodiale study, a prospective cohort study of 1232 patients (1088 followed until end-point) with a new diabetic foot ulcer were followed on a monthly basis until healing, death, major amputation or up to a maximum of 1 year. Ulcers were treated according to international guidelines. Baseline characteristics independently associated with minor amputation were examined using multiple logistic regression modelling. Based on the results of the multivariable analysis, a disease severity score was calculated for each patient. Results One hundred and ninety-four (18%) patients underwent a minor amputation. Predictors of minor amputation were depth of the ulcer (odds ratio 6.08, confidence interval 4.10-9.03), peripheral arterial disease (odds ratio 1.84, confidence interval 1.30-2.60), infection (odds ratio 1.56, confidence interval 1.05-2.30) and male sex (odds ratio 1.42, confidence interval 0.99-2.04). Minor amputation rate varied between 2.4 and 34% in the centres. Minor amputation rate in centres correlated strongly with disease severity score at the moment of presentation to the foot clinic (r = 0.75). Conclusions Minor amputation is performed frequently in diabetic foot centres throughout Europe and is determined by depth of the ulcer, peripheral arterial disease, infection and male sex. There are important differences in amputation rate between the European centres, which can be explained in part by severity of disease at presentation. This may suggest that early referral to foot clinics can prevent minor amputations.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poor in patients with persistent diabetic foot ulcers and poor HRQoL predicts worse outcomes in these patients. Amputation is often considered a treatment failure, which is why conservative treatment is generally preferred over amputation. However, it is unclear whether minor amputation negatively affects HRQoL compared with conservative treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: In the cohort of the multicenter, prospective, observational Eurodiale study, we determined difference in change of HRQoL measured by EQ-5D between patients with a diabetic foot ulcers that healed after conservative treatment (n = 676) and after minor amputation (n = 145). Propensity score was used to adjust for known confounders, attempting to overcome lack of randomization. Results: Baseline HRQoL was not significantly different between patients treated conservatively and undergoing minor amputation. In addition, there was no difference in the change of HRQoL between these groups. In patients who healed 6 to 12 months after the first visit, HRQoL on the anxiety/depression subscale even appeared to improve more in those who underwent minor amputation. Conclusions: Minor amputation was not associated with a negative impact on HRQoL in patients with a diabetic foot ulcers. It may therefore not be considered treatment failure in terms of HRQoL but rather a viable treatment option. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to further examine the influence of minor amputations on health-related quality of life. (Less)

Background The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and foot ulcers (FUs) treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of lower limbs. Methods The study group was composed of 145 diabetic patients who underwent a limb salvage protocol because of CLI and FUs between 2012 and 2015. All patients received a prophylactic strategy against the administration of contrast medium. Serum creatinine (SCr) levels were evaluated the day of procedure and for 3 days after. CIN was considered in case of increase of 25% of SCr in comparison to baseline value or an absolute increase of at least 0.5 mg/dl without other interfering factors. Results CIN occurred in 9% (14/145) of the cases. In the 1-year follow-up SCr returned to baseline values in 10 patients (71 %), 3 patients died (21%), and 1 patient had a major cardiovascular event (7%). No patients required dialysis. The risk was independent of chronic kidney disease stage. The rate of contrast nephropathy in each stage (X = 0.27) was as follows: 3/20 (15%) in stage 2; 3/66 (4.6%) in stage 3, 7/51 (13.7%) in stage 4; and 1/8 (12.5%) in stage 5. At the univariate analysis factors predicting this risk were anemia (HR 95% 2.5 [CI 1.8-4.2] P = .039) and heart failure (HR 95% 2.6 [CI 2.1-4.6] P = .038), while any significant variable was found at multivariate analysis. Conclusions Peripheral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in diabetic patients with CLI and FUs can be performed with a good safety factor and a low risk of contrast medium toxicity.

Although the St Vincent declaration calls for common European action in order to reduce major amputations, the differences in the incidence of foot problems and the prevalence of risk factors has not been fully investigated. We have examined the risk factors for foot ulceration and amputation in 278 consecutive patients (mean age 50.4 years, range 18-79 years) attending outpatient clinics of four teaching hospitals: Athens, Manchester, Rome, and Antwerp. There were no differences in age, weight or sex among the four groups but the percentage of patients with Type 1 diabetes was higher in Rome and Antwerp. Patients in Rome and Antwerp also had a longer duration of diabetes compared to Athens and Manchester. Mean vibration perception threshold was similar in all groups. No differences were found in the number of patients with moderate or severe clinical neuropathy (neuropathy disability score > 5), severe sensory loss (VPT > 25 V), and limited joint mobility. Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease was more frequent in Antwerp (p < 0.05) compared to the other three centres and foot ulceration in Rome compared to Manchester (p < 0.05). The number of smokers or ex-smokers and the average alcohol consumption were similar in all centres. We conclude that, despite a few differences mainly in Type 1 diabetic patients, there are no major differences in the risk factors for foot ulceration and that, therefore, similar strategies for the prevention of foot problems may be equally successful in different European countries.