Clinical Analysis of Diabetic Gangrene

Kim, Yong Ju; Kang, Dong Wook

Abstract

The angiopathy and neuropathy is the basic mechanism causing diabetic gangrene, but the exact mechanism is still unknown. The foot is especially susceptible to diabetic complication of angiopathy and neuropathy. In such a vulnerable foot, trivial trauma may quickly lead the foot to ulceration, infection, gangrene, and to the cataclysmic amputation. Twenty nine patients with diabetic gangrene were studied, the conclution were as follow. 1. Overall incidence is 1.8%, most common age over 50 years of age, and the most common disease durstion is from 10 to 14 years. 2. The most common site is toe (56% of cases). 3. The most common predisposing factor was local pressure (41% of cases), the radiographic bone change was seen in 14% of cases. 4. The FBS level is from 200 to 300 in 35% of cases. 5. Bacterial infection was seen in 80%, and staphylococcal aureus was most common. 6. The surgical or conservative treatment were effective in 80% of cases and mortality was 14%. 7. Diabetic retinopathy was most common associated complication (47% of cases).