Diabetic foot

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The diabetic foot is "common foot problems in persons with diabetes mellitus, caused by any combination of factors such as diabetic neuropathies; peripheral vascular diseases; and infection. With the loss of sensation and poor circulation, injuries and infections often lead to severe foot ulceration, gangrene and amputation."[1]

Diagnosis

The signs of underlying osteomyelitis are "an ulcer area larger than 2 cm2, a positive probe-to-bone test result, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of more than 70 mm/h, and an abnormal plain radiograph" according to a systematic review by the Rational Clinical Examination.[2] A normal magnetic resonance imaging makes osteomyelitis unlikely.

References

  1. Anonymous (2024), Diabetic foot (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. Sonia Butalia et al., “Does This Patient With Diabetes Have Osteomyelitis of the Lower Extremity?,” JAMA 299, no. 7 (February 20, 2008): 806-813.