Abstract

Dr. Nayyab Mujahid*, Dr. Hajra Iqbal Alvi, Dr. Shiza Tanveer

ABSTRACT

Background: In diabetes mellitus involvement of foot with infection, neuropathy and vascular involvement is a diabetic foot. It is a common problem. Objective: To find the pattern of diabetic foot infection in a tertiary care unit and its surgical solution. Methodology: This was a descriptive study conducted at a surgical unit in Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan. It included 32 patients suffering “diabetic foot” admitted from June 2019 to December 2019. All adult patients regardless of sex were included in the study. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Results: There were 32 patients presented with diabetic foot and 29 (90.6%) were male. Only eighteen were known diabetic. Smokers were 11 (34.4%). The right foot was involved in 19 (59.4%). The disease was advance as Wagner Grade 1, in 3 (9.4%), Grade 2, 5 (15.4%) Grade 3, 16 (50%) and beyond the grade were eight patients. Ulcer size was less than 4 cm in 2 (6.25%). The infection was superficial in 2 (6.25%), subcutaneous in 13 (40.6%) and deep in 23 (71.9%) patients. In 5 patients Ray’s amputation was done, forefoot amputations in 2, below knee amputations in 11, above knee amputation in five patients. Two patients were managed conservatively, and eight were subjected to significant debridement of leg and/ thigh and submitted to the Plastic Surgery department for plastic procedures. Conclusion: In conclusion, infection is the major cause of infected foot in our study. The below knee amputations, above knee amputations and Rays' amputations, were the most common type of amputations performed in this study.