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Lack of clear evidence on surgery to prevent amputation in diabetic foot ulcers

The Diabetes Elf, 2012

Lack of clear evidence on surgery to prevent amputation in diabetic foot ulcers » The Diabetes Elf
This systematic review set out to evaluate the effectiveness of revascularisation of the ulcerated foot in patients with diabetes and PAD.
In patients with diabetes, PAD and ulcerated feet, does surgical revascularisation, as compared with medical treatment, reduce the risk of amputation?
The researchers found 49 papers, none of which were randomized controlled trials, although three used a control group.
The general trend in the studies was to show improved rates of limb salvage for revascularization compared with the results of medically treated patients reported elsewhere in the literature.
The reviewers comments that there is a real need for standardized reporting of baseline demographic data, severity of disease and outcome reporting in this group of patients.