One Year Retrospective Study of Limb Salvage Versus Amputation in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Diabetic Foot Infections

Purpose: The team approach to limb salvage is becoming increasingly widespread as means of treatment for diabetic foot infections. However, just as limb salvage has become more common practice, the long-term result of many patients is still amputation. Reviewed, are cases of diabetic foot infections that presented through the Emergency Department requiring operative debridement. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients from the past year who presented to Georgetown University Hospital (GUH) with diabetic foot infections. The authors evaluated to see if the limb was salvageable or if it went on to amputation by 1-year follow-up. Results: Complete results are still under going statistical analysis, however early results have shown a positive value to the team approach to limb salvage. Statistics so far from GUH have shown a lower amputation rate than the national average. Conclusion: This review reveals that the limb salvage rate at GUH is currently higher than the national average. It's been shown that patients undergoing an amputation have an increase of oxygen consumption (9% higher unilateral BKA, 49% higher unilateral AKA, 280% higher bilateral AKA) and mortality rate (4 years 9 months BKA & 4 years 3 months AKA). This further supports limb salvage over amputation in diabetic foot infections.