A Clinical Study of the Diabetic Foot

Chung, Woo Koo; Lee, Yong Girl; Ko, Tae Hong

Abstract

With the advancement of modern medicine, diabatic foot gangrene rather than acute metabolic complications are eneountered as serious problem. The diabetic gangrene, one of the angiopathic and neuropathic complications, is difficult in treatment because of wound infection and delayed healing. The authors reviewed a series of 47 cases in 40 patient of diabetic gangrene that treated in orthopedic department of Eulji General Hospitsl, Seoul, from January 1982 to December 1987. We summarized the obtained results as following. 1. The overall incidence of diabetic gangrene was 0.42%, and 77.5% of patients with gangrene were in over 50 year age group. 2. 72.5% of patients with gangrene were 5-14 years in duration of diabetes. 3. The most common predisposing factor was local pressure(45%), and the most common site of lesions was big toe(34%). 4. Bacterial infections were shown in 90% of cases, and the most common organism wasstaphylococcus(56%).5. Diabetic retinopathy was the most common associated complication and neuropathy, nephropsthy in order. 6. According to the Wagner's classification, grade 4 lesion was most common(47%). 7. There was no correlation between primary healing and the lowest palpable pulse. 8. The overall rate of primary healing was 57%.