Treatment of the diabetic foot from a vascular surgeon's viewpoint.

Abstract

Diabetic foot lesions are caused by neurologic, orthopaedic, immunologic, and vascular derangements. Whereas some lesions may be initially caused by trauma and others directly caused by vascular disease, improvement of arterial perfusion often plays an important role in the successful salvage of these limbs. Fortunately, in the last several years, there has been a major improvement in the identification and treatment of those patients in whom correction of arterial occlusive disease is necessary for healing.