This document discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, classification, management, and treatment of diabetic foot. It notes that diabetic foot affects 15% of diabetics globally and can result in high rates of amputation. Management is multi-disciplinary and involves history, examination, investigations, prevention, wound care, offloading, revascularization procedures, and amputation if needed. Good diabetic control and foot care education are essential to preventing and treating diabetic foot complications.
3. Introduction
Diabetic foot, Is a spectrum of pathological entities
that affect the foot of a diabetic patient as a result of its
complications
Diabetic foots are common throughout the world
Resulting in high morbidity, mortality and major
economic burden
4. Management of diabetic foot is multi-disciplinary
Diabetic foot ranges from foot at risk to frank gangrene
5. Epidemiology
Diabetic foot , affect 15% of all diabetic globaally, 15–
20% may require amputation
NHS 2005 showed prevalence of Diabetic foot (DF) of
25% among patients with DM in Nigeria
DFU account for up to 24% mortality in patients with
DM
6. Ogbera & Fasanmade et al, reported
- 41.5% of DM patients have foot at risk
- Type II diabetes account for 98.1%
- Mean duration before development of DF is 10.8yrs
- Neuropathy was the commonest risk factor 76%
7. Pathogenesis
Diabetic foot result from
either;
Peripheral Neuropathy
80 – 90%
Peripheral vascular
disease 30-40%
Neuroischaemic disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
- Sensory
- Motor
- Autonomic
17. History
Presentation could be Emergency or Elective
- Emergency- Sepsis/ Septicaemia or Shock
- DKA or HHS
- Elective – Detailed history and examination
- Onset and progression
- Risk factor (Numbness, Parasthesia, foot
deformity, visual difficulties, pain, claudication, rest
pain)
18. Purulent discharge, bony spicules
Dark discoularation
Detailed of diabetic onset, care and control
Determine other complications of DM
Other relevant medical history
19. Examination
Absence of hair, callosity
Temperature; Cold or Warmth
Discolouration; Pale, Dark
Deformities;
Ulcer characteristics; Site, size, shape, etc
Discharge; Colour, Odour
20. Neurological Examination
- Pain
- Light Touch
- Vibration test
- Temperature
- Semmes-weinstein
monofilament test
Vascular Assessment
- peripheral pulses
- Ankle Brachial index
21. Investigations
1- Blood Sugar / long term control
- RBS , FBS, Glycated HB
2- Wound Swab, Tissue biopsy for M/C/S
3- Doppler / Duplex USS
4- X- rays
23. Prevention of DF
Good diabetic care
Life style modification
- stop smoking
- weight loss
- Avoidance of high fat
Protective foot wears
24. Foot care
Inspect his feet every day&
after prolonged walking
Avoid walking barefoot any
time
Avoid wearing shoes without
socks
Buy shoes of the correct size
Avoid wearing new shoes for
> 1h per day
Change shoe 2-3 times a day
Wash and dry feet every day
Moisturing oil or cream for
dry skin
Cut nails straight
32. Scotch cast boot
is a lightweight, well-
padded fiberglass cast,
extending from just
below the toes to the
ankle, and it is worn with
a cast sandal
35. Wagners Grade 3
Deep infection, abscess or OM
- I & D
- Serial surgical debridement
- Wound irrigation with
antibiotics
- Sequestrectomy
- Other measures as above
36. Wagner grade 4; fore foot
gangrene
- Conservative
amputations
- Revascularisation
procedures
- Two staged Amputation
is recommended
37. Wagner Grade 5
Gangrene involved major portion of the foot or hind foot
No conservative amputation is possible
Major amputation should be offered
Knee should be preserved as much as possible
38. Other indications of amputation in DF
- Ischaemic rest pain that cannot be managed
by analgesia or revascularisation
- A life-threatening foot infection eg gas gangrene
- Severe foot destruction by COM
- A non-healing ulcer that is accompanied by
a higher burden of disease
- Malignant transformation of ulcer
39. Post Amputation care Most patients develop DFU on the contra- lateral
limb within 18 mths of amputation
mortality up to 20- 50% within 3yr
Multi-specialist foot care team is required
Foot care education should be given to the patient
Follow up every 1-3month
Foot inspection / PVD assessment at every visit
All preventive measures should be taken
40. CONCLUSION
Diabetic foot is a global pandemic with high
morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic burden. Poor
patient education, poor preventive care and lack of
multi- specialist DF care units are the major concern in
our community thus, the need to improve our
knowledge, specialisation and care of DF.
41. References
Ogbera AO, Adedokun A, Fasamade OA. The foot at risk in
nigerian with diabetes mallitus- The Nigerian snerio. Int J
endocranol metab 2005;4:165-173
Boulton AJM, Connor H, Cavanagh PR (Eds), The Foot in
Diabetes (3rd edn). Chichester:Wiley, 2000; 131–142
Akinkugbe OO, Akinyanju OO. Final report – National Survey
on non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. Federal Ministry of
Health. Lagos, 1997; 65-8
Mccollister EC.surgery of the musclocutenous system volume4.
churchill-livingstone.chapter 153; p4189 – 4212
Chadwik P, Edmonds M, Mccardle J et al. Best practice
Guidelines: wound management in diabetic foot ulcers. Wounds
international 2013; p1-23
42. Rodriques J & Mitta N. Diabetic foot andgangrene.
Department of surgery Goa medical collage India.
www.intechopen.com ; p1-144
Ogbera A, Fansanmade O,Ohwovoriolae A. The diabetic in
Nigeria: High costs, Low awareness and lack of care.
Diabetic Voice 2006; 51(3)30 - 32
Faisal MA. Diabetic foot ppt. www.smso.net
Dalasu OO, Salawu FK, Jimoh AO et al. Diabetic foot care:
Self reported knowladge and practice among patients
attending tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Ghana Med J
2011;45(2)60-62
Katilombos N, Dounis E, Tsopogas P and Tentolouris N.
Atlas of diabetic foot. John wiley & sons 2013;p1- 231
Editor's Notes
Ranges:
Glove and stocking neuropathy
Ulcers
Gangrene
15% of Diabetics
25% of DM admissions in Britain, US
Diabetic foot ulcers are common and estimated to affect 15% of all diabetic individuals during their lifetime.2 It is now appreciated that 15–20% of patients with such foot ulcers go on to need an amputation. Almost 85% of the amputations are preceded by diabetic foot ulcer
Around 10% of people with diabetes in Nigeria suffer lower-limb complications, and the incidence is rising. In 2005, people with diabetes-related foot ulceration made up almost 12% of total hospital admissions
Neuropathy—as ‘the presence of symptoms
and/or signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction
in people with diabetes, after
exclusion of other causes
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
Peripheral neuropathy may predispose the foot to ulceration through its effects on the sensory, motor and autonomic nerves:
- The loss of protective sensation experienced by patients with sensory neuropathy renders them vulnerable to physical, chemical and thermal trauma
- Motor neuropathy can cause foot deformities (such as hammer toes and claw foot), which may result in abnormal pressures over bony prominence
Autonomic neuropathy is typically associated with dry skin, which can result in fissures, cracking and callus. Another feature is bounding pulses, which is often misinterpreted as indicating a good circulation
Loss of protective sensation is a major component of nearly all DFUs. It is associated
with a seven–fold increase in risk
of ulceration6.
Patients with a loss of sensation will have
decreased awareness of pain and other
symptoms of ulceration and infection31
PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE
People with diabetes are twice as likely to have PAD as those without diabetes32. It is also a key risk factor for lower extremity amputation30. The proportion of patients with an ischaemic component to their DFU is increasing and it is reported to be a contributory factor in the development of DFUs in up to 50% of patients It is important to remember that even in the absence of a poor arterial supply, microangiopathy (small vessel dysfunction) contributes to poor ulcer healing in neuroischaemic DFUs34. Decreased perfusion in the diabetic foot is a complex scenario and is characterised by various factors relating to microvascular dysfunction in addition to PAD DFUs usually result from two or more risk factors occurring together. Intrinsic elements such as neuropathy, PAD and foot deformity (resulting, for example, from neuropathic structural changes), accompanied by an external trauma such as poorly fitting footwear or an injury to the foot can, over time, lead to a DFU7.
persistently recurring ischemic rest pain requiring regular adequate analgesia for more
than 2 weeks, with an ankle systolic pressure of 50 mmHg or less and/or a toe pressure
of 30 mmHg or less;
b. ulceration or gangrene of the foot or toes, with an ankle systolic pressure of 50 mmHg
or below and/or a toe pressure of 30 mmHg or less. In such patients, it is important to
differentiate neuropathic pain from ischemic rest pain
INTRACELLULAR HYPERGLYCAEMIa
with disturbance in Polyol Pathway Nerves, Blood vessels, Lens, Kidneys Accumulation of Sorbitol & Fructose
Intracellular Osmolarity
Osmotic Injury
Iron pump impairment by Sorbitol
Schwann cell injury
Stage 1 : Normal - Not at risk. The patient does not have the risk factors of neuropathy,
ischemia, deformity, callus and swelling rendering him/her vulnerable to foot ulcers.
Stage 2 : High risk foot – the patient has developed one or more of the risk factors for
Stage 3 : Ulcerated foot – the foot has a skin breakdown. This is usually an ulcer, but
because some minor injuries such as blisters, splits or grazes have a propensity to become
ulcers, they are included in stage 3.
Stage 4 : Infected foot – the ulcer has developed infection with the presence of cellulitis.
Stage 5 : Necrotic foot – necrosis has supervened.
Stage 6 : Unsalvageable – The foot cannot be saved and will need a major amputation.ulceration of the foot.
Meggitt -Wagner Classification
based on depth, osteomyelitis and gangrene
Grade Lesion
0 Foot at risk; callosities, retinopathy, cataract,deformity or cellulitis
1 Superficial diabetic ulcer (partial or full thickness)
2 Deep Ulcer with extension to ligament, tendon, joint capsule, or deep fascia without abscess or osteomyelitis
3 Deep ulcer with abscess, osteomyelitis, or joint sepsis
4 Gangrene localized to portion of forefoot or heel
5 Extensive gangrenous involvement of the entire foot
University of Texas Diabetic Wound Classification; predictive of outcome
UMEBESE AND OGBEMUDIA
Predicts limb salvageabilit
≤ 11 unsalvageable
21 best prognostic index
COLOUR OF FOOT
NORMAL 3
DARKER DISCOLOURATION 2
BLACK 1
PERIPHERAL PULSES
DP AND PT PALPABLE 4
POSTERIOR TIBIAL ONLY 3
DORSALIS PEDIS ONLY 2
NONE 1
SENSATION
NORMAL LIGHT TOUCH AND PIN PRICK 3
DIMINISHED HYPOESTHESIA 2
INSENSIBILITY TO INSENSATE 1
6 worst prognostic index
GANGRENE LIMITED TO 1 OR 2 TOES 5
FULL THICKNESS ULCERATION OF DORSAL SKIN 4
ULCER INVOLVEMENT OF >2 TOES OR BALL OF FOOT 3
OPEN PENETRATING ULCER >50% OF SOLE 2
WHOLE FOOT GANGRENE + SUPRAMALLEOLAR 1
NECROTISING CELLULITIS
AGE 40 YEARS 3
41- 60 YEARS 2
> 61 YEARS 1
RADIOGRAPH OF FOOT
NORMAL 3
COM OR CALCIFIED PERIPHERAL VESSELS 2
COM + CPV 1
Brodsky Depth-Ischemia Classification of Diabetic Foot Lesions*
Depth Classification Definition
0 At-risk foot, no ulceration
1 Superficial ulceration, not infected
2 Deep ulceration exposing tendons or joints
3
Extensive ulceration or abscess
Ischemia Classification
A Not ischemic
B Ischemia without gangrene
C Partial (forefoot) gangrene
D Complete foot gangrene
ABI= Normal if 0.91–1.30 =Mild obstruction if 0.70–0.90 =Moderate obstruction if 0.40–0.69 =Severe obstruction if <0.40 =Poorly compressible if >1.30
Neuropathy
Loss of sensation of (a) pain (using a disposable pin; this test is carried out only when the skin is intact), (b) light touch (using a cotton wisp), and (c) temperature (using two metal rods, one at a temperature of 4 ◦C and the other at 40 ◦C) on the dorsum of the feet. Typically, in diabetic peripheral neuropathy the sensory deficit is pronounced at the periphery of the extremities (in a ‘glove and stocking distribution’). A zone of hypoesthesia is found between the area of loss of sensation and a more central area of normal sensation. Achilles tendon reflexes may be reduced or absent. Wasting of small muscles of the feet results in toe deformities (claw, hammer, curly toes) and prominent metatarsal heads. Vibration perception is tested using a 128-Hz tuning fork on the dorsal side of the distal phalanx of the great toes. A tuning fork should be placed perpendicular to the foot at a constant pressure. During examination the patient is prevented from seeing where the examiner has placed the tuning fork. Examination
Pressure perception is tested with Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments. Many studies have shown that inability to perceive pressure is related to a several-fold increase in the risk for foot ulceration. The filaments are available in large sets with varying levels of force required to bend them. Diabetic neuropathy can be detected using the 5.07 monofilament (this filament bends with the application of a 10-g force). Monofilament should be applied perpendicular to the skin surface and with sufficient force so that it bends or buckles (Figure 1.3). Total duration of skin contact of the filament should be approximately 2 s. During
examination the patient is prevented from seeing if and where the examiner applies the filament. The patient is asked to say whether he can feel the pressure applied (yes/no) and in which foot (right/left foot). Examination is repeated twice at the same site and there is at least one ‘sham’ application, in which no filament is applied (a total of three questions per site). The patient has normal protective sensation when the correct answer is given for two out of the three tests and is at risk for ulceration when they are not. The International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot suggested three sites to be tested on both feet: the plantar aspect of the great toe, the first and the fifth metatarsal heads. The filament must be applied at the perimeter and not at an ulcer site, callus, scar or site of necrotic tissue.
Glycated Hb <7% Good control, >9% poor control
Insole layers
The upper layer is composed of
= cross-linked polyethylene foam
=the middle layer of polyurethane
- the lower layer of cork
Inspect his or her feet every day, including
areas between toes. Inspection of
the sole may be accomplished using
a mirror.
• Let someone else inspect his or her feet
in cases where the patient is unable to
do it.
• Avoid walking barefoot any time, in- or
outdoors.
• Avoid wearing shoes without socks, even
for short periods.
• Buy shoes of the correct size.
• Avoid wearing new shoes for more than
1 h per day; feet should be inspected
after taking off new shoes; in the case of
foot irritation the patient should inform
the healthcare provider.
• Change shoes at noon, and, if possible,
again in the evening; this prevents high
pressures remaining on the same area of
the foot for a prolonged period.
• Inspect and palpate the inside of his or
her shoes before wearing them.
• Wash his or her feet every day, taking
care to dry them, especially the web
spaces.
• Avoid putting his or her feet onto heaters.
• Test the water temperature before bathing
using his or her elbow; the temperature
of the water should be less than 37 ◦C.
• Avoid the use of chemical agents or
plasters and razors for the removal of
corns and calluses; they must be treated
by a health care provider.
• Cut the nails straight across.
• Wear socks with seams inside out, or preferably
without any seams at all.
Use lubricating oils or creams for dry
skin, but not between toes.
• Inspect his or her feet after prolonged
walking.
• Notify his or her healthcare provider
at once, if a blister, cut, scratch, sore,
redness or black area develops, or if any
discharge appears on socks.
Objects obtained from diabetics shoes
the use of a
total-contact cast resulted in almost 90% of
plantar ulcers healing within an average of
6–7 weeks.
Scot cast boot
This is a lightweight, well-padded fiberglass
cast, extending from just below the
toes to the ankle, and it is worn with a
cast sandal
1- Therapeutic half shoe for the treatment of forefoot ulcers
2- Commercially available heel-free
3- Therapeutic footwear for ulcers on the dorsum of the forefoot shoes for the treatment of hind foot ulcers
4-Heel protector ring which keeps the heel suspended and completely off mattress
Silicone ring used to keep adjacent toes apart
base on ischaemic index and condition of skin
DFU on the contralateral
limb within 18 months of amputation. The
three–year mortality rate after a first amputation
is 20–50%107. In a six-year follow-up study,
almost 50% of patients developed critical limb