The team approach in salvage of the diabetic foot.

Various problems encountered in dealing with diabetic feet are discussed from the point of view of the orthopedist, the vascular surgeon, and the specialist in infectious disease. In our hospital, each new diabetic patient with a compromised extremity is evaluated by the team, and joint decisions are made concerning therapy. Treatment may be tedious and time consuming, but under these optimum conditions, we feel our salvage rate has been much improved. When it is realized that 30 percent of all diabetics with an amputation of one extremity come to amputation of the other extremity within three years, the rationale for this additional attention and care becomes obvious.