Diabetic foot is a serious complication resulting from longstanding diabetes mellitus. It occurs in patients whose diabetes is poorly controlled and is a result of a combination of damage to the blood vessels of the legs and the nerves. A combination of reduced sensations in the legs and feet and impaired blood flow can result in injuries and wounds to the diabetic foot which do not heal well. If not properly and adequately treated, diabetic foot can result in major amputations. Careful management by our Multidisciplinary Team, however, can result in the salvage of the food and the prevention of amputation in a large number of patients.
Interventional radiologists are important Members in the management of diabetic foot. After initial evaluation by our Diabetic Foot Surgeon, the Radiologist will generally do a Doppler evaluation of the leg arteries to look for blockages. If blockages are found on the Doppler evaluation, the patient will need to undergo angiography & angioplasty of the leg arteries. Angioplasty will help to restore the blood flow to the foot and facilitate rapid wound healing.