Reamputation after minor foot amputation in diabetic patients: risk factors leading to limb loss.

The prevalence of lower extremity reamputation in diabetic patients has been well-documented. We sought to determine the risk factors for major lower extremity amputation (LEA) after minor foot amputation in diabetic patients. We studied 163 diabetic patients who had undergone an initial minor foot amputation and then had undergone at least 1 subsequent major or minor LEA.

Rate of residual osteomyelitis after partial foot amputation in diabetic patients: a standardized method for evaluating bone margins with intraoperative culture.

The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of residual osteomyelitis after different foot amputations in diabetic patients with a standardized method of determining a clean bone margin. This retrospective observational pilot study evaluated 27 diabetic patients who had a forefoot amputation (toe, partial ray, or transmetatarsal) for osteomyelitis at our institution from January 1, 2010, to August 1, 2011. A standardized method was used intraoperatively to determine if bone margins were negative for residual osteomyelitis.

Adventitious bursae underlying chronic wounds: another possible deterrent to healing.

Adventitious bursae typically develop in areas of chronic frictional irritation, usually under bony prominences. Although adventitious bursae are generally well understood, there is a paucity of data on effects of bursae underlying chronic wounds in neuropathic patients. This manuscripts reviews 4 clinical cases, each with a neuropathic patient with adventitious bursae underlying chronic nonhealing wound and strategies for treatment.