The diabetic foot: an alternative approach to major amputation.

Of the complications of diabetes mellitus, none is more devastating than gangrene of the foot and the threat of leg amputation. The pathophysiology of vascular insufficiency, neurotrophic changes, and infection leading to this gangrene have been reviewed. Based on this pathophysiology, an approach for conservative surgery of the diabetic foot has been outlined. Using known principles of wound healing and the management of soft tissue infection, obviously necrotic or infected tissue is debrided and the wound managed conservatively. The use of debriding adjuncts such as the pulsating jet lavage, topical antibacterials, and biologic dressings are suggested to control the infection so that the wounds can be closed with either skin grafts or local flaps. This method can result in salvage of many feet and the maintenance of biped ambulation since the outlook for the diabetic with a major amputation is markedly different from the nondiabetic amputee.