Surgical Treatment of Diabetic Foot in Different Stages View PDF

^*Jasim Mohammed Hasan
Medicine, Department Of Orthopedics, Basrah Teaching Hospital, Basrah Health Directorate, Basrah, Iraq
Sajjad Fakhir Nasir
Medicine, Department Of Orthopedics, Basrah Teaching Hospital, Basrah Health Directorate, Basrah, Iraq

^*Corresponding Author:

Jasim Mohammed Hasan
Medicine, Department Of Orthopedics, Basrah Teaching Hospital, Basrah Health Directorate, Basrah, Iraq

Published on: 2025-11-14

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot infection encompasses a range of infectious conditions that form a continuum of clinical manifestations. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors leading to complications in diabetic foot infections and to evaluate the outcomes of various treatment modalities for managing diabetic foot.

Subjects and Methods: A total of 100 cases were included in this study. The research focused on examining clinical presentations, management strategies, preventive measures, etiology, and surgical complications associated with foot infections in diabetic patients.

Results: Diabetic foot infections were most commonly observed in middle-aged individuals, particularly those in their 4th and 5th decades of life. The study included 50 males and 50 females. Of these, 70% were presented with diabetic foot ulcers, 20% had diabetic foot cellulitis, and 10% presented with gangrene. Surgical site infections were the most frequent complications, affecting a total of 10 patients.

Conclusion: The primary goal of surgical management for diabetic foot infections is now preservation of the foot. Treating diabetic foot infections remains challenging due to the presence of systemic diseases, compromised immune resistance, patient ignorance, poor adherence to long-term insulin therapy, and fear of surgery among some patients.

Keywords

Diabetic foot, Foot ulcers, Sequestrectomy, Debridement, Amputation

Introduction

Diabetes can cause damage to both nerves and blood vessels over time, which can lead to the loss of foot function due to nerve damage [1]. People with diabetes may not feel injuries such as cuts, blisters, or sores because of this nerve damage. Additionally, poor blood circulation, often seen in those with diabetes, increases the risk of foot infections, which can range from mild cellulitis to more severe conditions like osteomyelitis. In fact, foot wounds are one of the leading causes of hospitalization for people with diabetes, and many of these cases may require surgical treatment [2].

A group of conditions, including infection, diabetic foot ulcers, and neuropathic osteoarthropathy, is referred to as diabetic foot syndrome. Globally, the number of people with diabetes is increasing rapidly, with 194 million affected worldwide, and the number is expected to rise to 344 million by 2030. Each year, between 2 and 6% of these individuals will develop a diabetic foot ulcer [3].

Infections in people with diabetes are more difficult to treat due to impaired blood circulation, which reduces the delivery of immune cells to the infection site and the concentration of antibiotics in the affected tissues [4]. Diabetic foot infections can vary from minor fungal infections to severe, life-threatening conditions. The types of infections seen in diabetic patients depend on the severity of the wound, with early infections often being monomicrobial and more advanced ones becoming polymicrobial [5, 6].

This study aims to explore the clinical signs, management approaches, and surgical complications associated with foot infections in diabetic patients