Epidemiology of lower limb amputations in diabetics in Denmark (1980 to 1989).

From 1980 to 1989, 4852 diabetic patients in Denmark underwent 5642 lower limb amputations. Records of the Danish Amputation Register and the National Patient Register indicate a decrease of amputations in diabetics from 681 to 463 per year in this time. There has also been a decrease in above knee amputations in diabetics from 30 to 20 percent of all amputations with a corresponding increase of amputations at or below the knee. Demographic factors and possible reasons for these changes are reviewed. There seems to be a relationship between the improvement of diabetic foot care by the free service of trained podiatrists and the reduction of amputations in diabetics in Denmark.