How common is infection in people with diabetic foot ulcers?
Dr. Edmonds: Of the people with ulcers about 70-80% will develop infection at any one time. But for the point of view of caring for the patient, you’ve got to assume that 100% will get infections. Once you’ve got a portal of entry, you’ve got a route in for the bacteria and only a few people got away by not getting an infection. The crunch comes in what you do when you have an infection. Some people act early and get good treatment, whereas some people don’t act early and don’t get optimum treatment and then the infection can go to gangrene. Diabetes1: Can you describe the bone resection procedure for osteomyelitis? Dr. Edmonds:That procedure is variable. At one end of the spectrum is removing the whole part of the foot that has the infected bone. It may be removing a toe or a toe with a metatarsal head (ray). It may be a mid-foot amputation if there is widespread bone disease. If the disease becomes very widespread, it involves a major amputation below the knee. Diabetes1: What are th
