Presse Med
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There are more than 2 million diabetics in France. Fifteen percent have suffered at one time or another from a foot ulcer. This condition accounts for 20% of all admissions of diabetic patients and for 50% of corresponding hospitalization stays. Fifteen to 25% of diabetic foot ulcers lead to an amputation, the patients being in the 45-65 year age range. Fifty percent of the amputated patients will have a contralateral amputation within the next 5 years. ⋯ Careful physical examination and appropriate explorations are required for proper care giving the patient the best chances for cure.
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A multidisciplinary approach is essential. General measures include immobilization of the focus, controlling blood glucose, anticoagulation, and anti-tetanus vaccination. Topical application of growth factors is currently under evaluation. ⋯ A certain number of simple measures help reduce the risk of diabetic foot ulcers. However, many patients, and practitioners, are insufficiently aware of their effectiveness. Prevention and treatment can best be accomplished by a multidisciplinary approach calling upon the endocrinologist and the vascular and orthopedic surgery teams. A carefully planned rehabilitation program using adapted soles, orthesis, orthopedic shoes or prostheses as needed can considerably reduce the frequency of recurrence. The risk of recurrence in a patient wearing adapted footwear is only 26% at 5 years compared with 83% in other cases.
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A MAJOR PROBLEM: Two-thirds of all amputations involve infection. Infection is favored by dysfunction of the antibacterial defense systems due to high blood glucose and vascular disorders. ⋯ Staphylococcus aureus and to a lesser extent streptococci account for almost all of the superficial infections in the diabetic foot. In case of deep ulceration, it is important to obtain deep specimens at surgical cleansing as more superficial samples are easily contaminated. Nevertheless, if Staphylococcus aureus is isolated from pus coming from a deep zone fistulizing to the skin, it is likely the causal agent since 80% of all bone infections involve S. aureus. Other germs besides staphylococci and streptococci include enterobacteria (40%), enterococci (26%) and pseudomonas (7%). Several germs are involved in about 70% of cases with a probable synergetic effect between the different bacterial colonies within the infected tissues.
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A COMMON SYMPTOM: Pain is a common and underestimated problem in older people who are likely to suffer from many acute and chronic conditions. DIFFICULT ASSESSMENT: Clinical assessment of pain often depends on the patient's ability to communicate his or her experience. ⋯ ADJUSTED PAIN MANAGEMENT: As for younger patients, the most common strategy for pain management is the use of analgesic drugs. Special care should be taken however when such drugs are initiated in the elderly because increased sensitivity, prolonged drug half-life and adverse effects and drug interactions are more likely.