[The importance of multidisciplinary foot-care services in the management of diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers].

Diabetic peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers are leading causes of hospitalization, for patients with diabetes mellitus, and also are the most important causes of amputation of the lower extremity in those patients, which contribute to the increased mortality and cardiovascular death. The incidence of diabetic peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers shows increasing trend. Diabetic peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers can be successfully treated only by the multidisciplinary foot-care services which provide more comprehensive and integrated care as compared to ordinary medical team or single specialist. Multidisciplinary foot-care services are provided by the team consist of: diabetologist, diabetes nurse, vascular surgeon, general surgeon, orthopedist, orthopaedic surgeon, podiatrist and orthotist, interventional radiologist and a radiology coordinator, microbiologist, psychologist, educators, shoemaker and rehabilitation team. Contrary to developed countries, multidisciplinary foot-care team has not been constructed in most centres in China. Diabetic education, appropriate foot care, early detection of risk factors of foot ulcers and early intervention are key components in the overall management of diabetic foot disorders and have assumed important roles in programs focused on amputation prevention. Prompt and aggressive treatments of diabetic peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers can often prevent an exacerbation of the problem and the potential need for amputation, which include correction of biomechanical abnormalities, infection control, serial debridement of ulcers, peripheral revascularization and wound coverage, etc. It is very important to construct a multidisciplinary diabetic foot care team to more effectively improve the survival and prognosis of patients with diabetic peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers with comprehensive treatments.