Abstract

DUARTE, Nádia  and  GONCALVES, Ana. Diabetic foot. Angiol Cir Vasc [online]. 2011, vol.7, n.2, pp.65-79. ISSN 1646-706X.

Diabetic foot problems are a common complication of diabetes, with a prevalence of - 23-42% for neuropathy, 9-23% for vascular disease and 5-7% for foot ulceration. It, results in major medical, social and economic consequences for the patients, their families, and society. Diabetic foot ulceration is associated with peripheral vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy, often in combination. Individuals with the greatest risk of ulceration can easily be identified by careful clinical examination of their feet. Education and frequent follow-up is indicated for these patients. When a foot ulcer is complicated by an infection, the combination can be limb-threatening, or life-threatening. Infection is defined clinically, but wound cultures assist in identifying the causative pathogens. Antimicrobial therapy should be guided by culture results.., nevertheless such therapy, by itself, may cure the infection, but it does not heal the wound. To achieve that, it is also necessary to correct the other factors (abnormal pressure points, limb ischemia).

Keywords : diabetic foot; diabetic neuropathies; peripheral vascular diseases; infection; foot ulcer.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )