A brief overview of assessment, risk assessment and stratification for diabetic foot
Sourced from various articles, journals and studies published
Information updated until February of 2024
2. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
In India;
- >66.8 million diabetics in age group 20-70
- 8.6% prevalence of diabetes
- 25% lifetime risk of diabetic foot ulcer
- 15% people with Diabetes duration >=10yrs
- one of the most common complications
Diabetic foot :
“ foot of a diabetic person, that has potential risk of
pathological consequences, associated with neurologic |
vascular | metabolic complications of diabetes in lower
extremity “ -W.H.O
Globally;
- 34% lifetime risk of diabetic foot ulcer
- Incidence 18.6 million people per year
- 2.5 fold higher risk of death than a diabetic without
ulcer
- most frequently complicated by infection
3. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
- Screening for DFU risk is essential for early
identification of it’s components; thereby preventing
progression to advanced complications
Vascular factors
Mechanical factors
Compounded by;
- diabetic neuropathy; sensory | motor | autonomic
- peripheral arterial disease
- trauma / precipitating event
Development of DFU typically involves;
interplay
4. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
Adopted | Adapted from four source guidelines
IWGDF-2015 | IDSA 2012 | NICE 2015 | NICE guidelines on PAD 2014
MoHFW Standard Treatment Guidelines
Recommendations:
- Identifying “at-risk” foot
- Regular inspection, examination of “at-risk” foot
- Educate patient | family | healthcare provider
- Use of appropriate footwear
- Treatment of pre-ulcerative signs
5. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
A ssessment R ecommendat ions
Screen in history;
Lower extremity amputation | revascularisation
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Foot deformity Foot Ulcer(s)
Poor foot hygiene
Ill-fitting footwear
Patient as a whole
Evaluate diabetic patient, presenting
with foot wound, at three levels
Affected foot | limb
Infected wound
Assess affected foot | limb for:
arterial ischemia
- venous insufficiency
- loss of protective sensation
- biomechanical problems
7. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
Risk classification system and Preventive screening frequency
Consider possibility of infection occurring in any foot wound, in
diabetic patient
9. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
Consider vascular imaging and revascularization in DFU with PAD, if ulcer does not improve in 6weeks, despite op
Ankle systolic pressure
Ankle-Brachial pressure index
Evaluate entire lower limb arterial circulation
Colour doppler studies
Doppler arterial waveform
Evaluate patient with diabetes and foot ulcer for presence of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Palpating pedal | limb pulses
History
History of claudication
Assess severity of diabetic foot infection and factors suggestive of need for hospitalisation
10. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
Guidelines for prevention | assessment | management
of Diabetic Foot disease
Limb related
Patient related
LOPS
PAD
End Stage
Renal
Failure
Ulcer related
area
depth
site
single/multiple
infection presence
Based on 8 key factors
11. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
(i) SINBAD system
quick, simple to apply
no need of specialised equipment beyond clinical assessment
allows for triage
high inter-observer reliability
Grades the area | depth | arteriopathy | denervation| infection
12. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
A strong predictor of need for hospitalisation
(ii) IDSA / IWGDF system
to characterised and guide infection management in a diabetic patient with infected foot ulcer
13. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
(iv) WIFI scoring to assess perfusion and likelihood benefit from revascularisation
14. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
Uses combination of scores for
wound | ischemia | foot infection
1 yr risk of
amputation
1 yr benefit for
revascularisation
To provide
15. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
New model to classify patient with, diabetes | active DFU,
by the risk for lower extremity amputation
Having in it’s foundation, IWGDF diabetic foot risk assessment
16. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
Four DFU
Previous foot
complications
depth
extent
infection
number
Four foot
Uses 8 variables
Foot
Deformity
Peripheral
Arterial
Disease
Peripheral
Neuropathy
17. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
IWGDF risk stratification to predict foot ulcer in
diabetic patients
American Diabetes Association
Approach :
18. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
History; duration of diabetes
overall glycemic control
prior foot injury | ulcers | amputation | revascularisation
claudication history
cigarette smoking
Visual inspection of feet at each visit
inclusive of; nail care | footwear | fungal
infections | callosities
- 10g monofilament testing
@12sites
- Ipswich touch test
- Vibration testing; 128Hz
tuning fork [or]
biothesiometer
Inspection
- skin integrity
- bony deformities
- joint mobility
- gait | balance
- Charcot arthropathy
Loss of Protective Sensation
Foot Examination
Pedal pulses
- pulse
- temperature
- dependant rubor
- claudication
- Ankle-Brachial Index
19. Dr. Adheesh Phalke
If ulcer present
- drainage
- odour
- granulation tissue
- exposed underlying structures
- infection
site | size | depth | extent |
number | health | infection