Avoid amputation by undergoing simple foot surgery early: Expert

Bangalore, May 24 (UNI) A simple corrective surgery can help avoid amputation of legs by patients suffering from diabetes.

According to an estimate nearly 200,000 chronic diabetic patients lose their legs annually in India and this trend could be averted by treating the foot of the patients in the initial stage itself, noted Podiantric (foot and ankle) Surgeon Robert Frykberg of the US said here today.

He was speaking to newspersons after performing surgical procedures, which was beamed live for the benefit of over 50 surgeons from across India, on patients with diabetic foot deformities that could prevent future leg amputations at Jain Institute of Vascular Sciences (JIVAS) here.

Dr Frykberg said such simple surgeries could save precious lives as it had been proved that a majority of those who undergo amputations had a shortened life span. This was because they would expend more energy while walking with the help of crutches that would affect the hearts of the diabetes patients. Moreover Neuropathy which caused nerve damage among the diabetes patients often hinders circulation of blood to the heart, he said.

Dr Suresh, JIVAS Director and Vascular Surgeon said the estimated two lakh amputations was underestimated as 60 per cent of hospitalisation cases among the diabetes were connected with foot problems. Damage to nerves and blood vessels of the legs were the main causes for amputation in diabetics.

The diabetic foot clinic at JIVAS today launched InFoCes (integrated foot care services) which would offer entire spectrum of both preventive and therapeutic foot care and podiatry surgery for correction of foot deformities to prevent ulceration and decrease the chances of amputation.

UNI