A specialized treatment of patients with diabetic foot can be avoided if doctors Dresden experience great foot and leg amputations. This increased chance of survival and quality of life of patients, the physicians stressed. They put in Dresden is a scientific study that supports this observation.
It has been observed for the study were 172 patients with problems caused by circulatory problems for over a year. 75 percent survived without major amputation. Her limbs were saved by the treatment of bruises and wounds as well as by smaller amputations. 20 percent died, the remaining 5 percent lived with only one or no legs, “said Prof. Sebastian M. Schellong.
“Chronic foot wounds are one of the most serious complications of diabetes,” said senior physician Hannes Rietzsch. The so-called diabetic foot occurs in about 15 percent of diabetics. High blood sugar levels lead to insufficient supply and nerve damage. “The patient feels no pain and minor injuries will not it time.” Circulatory problems are the leading to tissue death. Is not too late or optimal treatment threatened the loss of the foot or even leg.
The study showed that this interdisciplinary with structured treatment can be avoided by a specialized team of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, podiatrists and shoe makers, said Prof. Schellong. Important for this are the cooperation of the patient, awareness of family doctors and clinics for the disease, the members for timely treatment and health insurance for the necessary financing. These would have to expand its treatment services to the extent demanded Rietzsch.
The flat-rate compensation system is not sufficient to make the clinic with treatment losses. So far, the request to assist with the health insurance but was unheard. “It takes a fee, which allows doctors, nurses and podiatrists to pay,” warned Prof. Schellong also. Because the special treatment is affected to the people with diabetes could the portion of amputations above the ankle of 50 to 10 percent of press.