[Morphological changes of the lower leg arteries and the plantar arch in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with chronic critical ischemia of the leg].

In this prospective study we evaluated if atherosclerosis of crural and pedal arteries differs in diabetic and non-diabetic patients suffering from chronic ischemia. We performed intraoperative angiography after completion of a femoro-popliteal or femoro-distal bypass. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (25 diabetic and 44 non-diabetic patients) concerning the severity and localisation of the arteriosclerosis in the three crural arteries and the pedal arch. The prerequisite for a successful arterial reconstruction were identical in our patients with or without diabetes and a similar number of potential recipient arteries were found at below knee and foot level in both groups.