Elsevier

The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery

Volume 35, Issue 6, November–December 1996, Pages 528-531
The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery

Classification of diabetic foot wounds

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1067-2516(96)80125-6Get rights and content

Foot ulcers in persons with diabetes are one of the most common precursors to lower extremity amputation. Appropriate care of the diabetic foot ulceration requires a clear, descriptive classification system that may be used to direct appropriate therapy and possibly predict outcome. Ideally, this system would be used by all participants in a multidisciplinary limb salvage team. We describe a clinical classification system for diabetic foot wounds that evaluates wound depth, the presence of infection, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease in every category of the wound assessment. The goal of this system is to improve communication, leading to a less complex, more predictable treatment course and, ultimately, an improved result.

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    a

    From the Department of Orthopaedics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, The Diabetic Foot Research Group, San Antonio, Texas.

    2

    This work was presented in modified form at the First International Symposium on the Diabetic Foot, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1991.

    3

    Director of Podiatric Residency: Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

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