Recent article on diabetic wounds and risks

See:

http://abh.com/downloads/ABH_OWM.pdf

SOME STATISTICS FROM THIS ARTICLE:

“The annual incidence rate for foot ulceration is 1% to 6.84% in individuals with a lifetime risk of 15% to 25%”

“Approximately 15% of DFUs [Diabetic Foot Ulcers] results in lower extremity amputations.”

“…patients with diabetes and a history of DFU [Diabetic Foot Ulcer] had a 47% increased risk of mortality…”

“Five-year mortality rates after lower extremity amputation (LEA) range from 50% to 76%”

Article on diabetic wound care

See:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/980315ap/armstron.html

Amputation Settlement

NEVADA: Negligence Of Podiatrist And Support Staff Result In Partial Foot Amputation

Confidential Settlement:

The podiatrist, after performing foot surgery, allowed her support staff to see the patient for post-operative office visits as well as her own examinations. The office personnel applied a much too constrictive post-operative bandage which compromised the circulation of the foot. Despite seeing the podiatrist several times thereafter, the circulation problem was never diagnosed until gangrene developed. The patient underwent further surgery by subsequent doctors including partial foot amputation.

Recently Declined Case

Footlaw.com recently declined to accept a case involving chronic ankle pain. Review of the records showed that the patient had prior ankle arthroscope procedure; an open ankle procedure for osteochondritis desicans; a third procedure involving removal of ankle bone spurs; and a fourth surgery of replacement of the ankle joint with a cadaver ankle. Despite the injury, footlaw.com could not find deviation from the standard of care. The opinion of footlaw.com was that the condition was a result of a chronic degenerative process and not medical negligence.