Commentary on ‘Strategies for Free Flap Transfer and Revascularisation with 10 Year Outcome in the Treatment of Large Diabetic Foot Lesions’

Abstract

acceptable results in the other two groups. 1 The study provides a large single centre series about this topic, and the authors are to be congratulated for their efforts in the surgery, treatment, and follow up of these patients, most of whom would have experienced major limb amputation sooner or later. The data are presented clearly and give hope that this may be an additional method for limb salvage in diabetic patients with non-healing wounds or ulcers. Nevertheless, there are some points that should be discussed and mentioned before recommending such an extensive therapy given the time and costs. As can be seen in this study, the authors have done about five free flap transfers per year for diabetic foot lesions. Thus, it should be clear that this procedure is a rare and selected one for these patients, and that the indications for this therapeutic modality are negatively selected and fail