Reducing the rate of amputations in acute diabetic foot infections

Abstract

Many older diabetic patients present to the emergency room with limb-threatening foot complications, and may at the same time need attention to life-threatening endocrine, cardiac, or renal complications. To better serve the elderly veteran population at our institution, we designed a multidisciplinary, algorithmic approach that links the podiatry and medicine services to facilitate appropriate referral, admission, and management, with the ultimate goal of reducing the rate of amputations.