Foot Care Program for Patients With Leprosy Also May Prevent Amputations in Persons With Diabetes

Abstract

A FOOT SCREENING and treatment program developed for patients with Hansen's disease may prevent the great majority of lower extremity amputations in patients with diabetes. So say researchers at the Carville Foot Treatment Program of the Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, La. (Please see preceding article.) These researchers say that proper use of conservative treatments developed at the center would prevent more than 90% of lower-extremity amputations in diabetic patients ( Mil Med. 1990;155:575-579). Lower-Extremity Amputations At present, diabetes mellitus is the number one cause of lower-extremity amputation in the United States. It accounts for approximately 60000 cases per year and 50% to 70% of all nontraumatic amputations, says Charles A. Patout, Jr, MD, director of the Rehabilitation Program at the Hansen's Disease Center. In fact, Patout says, each year, approximately 1% of diagnosed diabetics in the United States undergo amputation of a lower extremity. According to Patout, the