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Case Series | General Surgery | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 1623 - 1630 | India
A Case Series on Recent Advances in Management of Diabetic Lower Limb Infections
Abstract: Background: Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease that often causes multiple systemic complications, is regarded as a major world-wide international public health problem. Nearly 85 % of patients presenting with diabetic foot ulcers are at risk of non -traumatic lower limb amputations. If an amputation is performed annual mortality is 10%-20%. So, Limb Salvage is the primary aim of the study & hence the decrease % of morbidity and mortality due to Diabetic Lower Limb Infections. Materials & Methods: 1) Sample Size: 42 cases 2) Study Duration: 1 year (March 2023- February 2024) 3) Study Design: Prospective Observational Study 4) Study Setting: Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences. 5) Inclusion Criteria: a) Wagner?s grade 3, 4 & 5 b) Age group 18-80 years c) Wound involving Lower Limb d) T2 Diabetes Mellitus 6) Exclusion Criteria: a) T1 Diabetes Mellitus b) Wagner?s grade 1, 2 c) Vascular abnormality like DVT, Atherosclerotic Plaque in lower limb. Methodology: Total 42 cases were taken. Among them 12 cases (28.57%) were conservative & 30 cases (71.14%) were managed surgically. Among the surgical cases Toe Amputation 2 cases (6.67%), Mid-Foot Amputation 1 case (3.33%), Rotational Flap closure 10 cases (33.33%), Advancement Flap closure 8 cases (26.67%), Transposition Flap Closure 4 cases (13.33%), Bipedicular Flap Closure 3 cases (6.67%), Split-Thickness Skin Grafting Closure 2 cases (6.67%) were performed. Result: The mean Age (Years) (mean?SD) of patients was 53.78?11.90. Among the surgical cases Seroma formation 5 cases (16.67%), Flap necrosis 2 cases (6.67%), Wound dehiscence 4 cases (13.33%), Donor site infection 1 case (3.33%) and average recovery time observed 1-1.5 months. Among the cases conservatively managed there were Excessive exudate present 4 cases (33.33%), Deeper tissue wound extension 2 cases (16.67%) & both were ulceration, no osteomyelitis noted and this 2 cases need surgical intervention. The average time of recovery in conservatively managed cases was 2-3 months. Conclusion: No single approach would correct the complex pathogenesis of diabetic foot. Reasonable selection and combination of recent techniques should be considered. Above all, patients and their family must be educated about the nature and complication of the disease. So, my presentation highlights the rising of awareness and recent approaches towards this alarming condition to salvage the limb from amputation and its level.
Keywords: Diabetic lower limb infection, Wagner's gradings, Limb Salvage, Amputation, Growth factors, Surgical dressing, Antibiotics
How to Cite?: Dr. Shilpi Halder, Dr. Prasanta Kumar Bhattacharya, "A Case Series on Recent Advances in Management of Diabetic Lower Limb Infections", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1623-1630, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26719202454, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26719202454