When It Comes To Preventing Amputation In Diabetics, Site, Not Size, Matters

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 29 May 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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Researchers at Scholl College's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Leiden University in the Netherlands, and Texas A&M University have presented important new information that could help physicians and their patients predict dangerous recurrent wounds that precede amputations in persons with diabetes. The study, conducted over a several-year period, identified two simple items that helped predict recurrence.

"The study was surprising and promising in that, out of a whole lot of data, some simple truths emerged," noted David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, Professor of Surgery at Scholl College and a principal investigator on the study. "The location of the ulcer (under the big toe) and the presence of poor blood flow were the key factors that dramatically increased the risk for recurrent wounds in these patients, thereby increasing their risk for gangrene and amputation. These findings could go a long way to help us predict and prevent the unnecessarily high rate of complications in persons with diabetes, worldwide."

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The findings are published ahead of print in the online edition of the journal Diabetes Care.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science educates medical doctors, health professionals and biomedical scientists in a personalized atmosphere. The University is located at 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, and encompasses Chicago Medical School, College of Health Professions, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, and School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Visit at http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/ and http://www.lifeindiscovery.com/. For more information about CLEAR, visit http://www.diabetic-foot.net/.

Contact: Kathy Peterson
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

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