[Use of CO2 laser in the treatment of suppurative-necrotic lesions of the foot in patients with diabetes mellitus].

The CO2 laser Skalpel-I was used in the treatment of pyonecrotic lesions of the foot in 57 patients with diabetes mellitus. Preliminary comparison of the results shows the method to be promising: the number of high amputations reduced from 34% to 19%, the mortality, from 17% to 6%. The authors conclude that introduction of laser techniques into clinical practice will lead to a decrease in the number of high amputations and will improve further rehabilitation of patients with diabetes mellitus and pyonecrotic complications in the lower limbs.