ABSTRACT

In diabetic foot disease, various pathological processes conspire to inflict such tissue damage that amputation may eventually be necessary. The burden of suffering and cost is enormous. In the USA, 5-15% of all patients with diabetes require some form of amputation. In the UK, the prevalence of amputation among diabetic patients over 20 years of age is 3%, and for ulceration, the prevalence is 7%. Such a degree of morbidity clearly has a large economic impact.