Amputations due to diabetes reduced in the US
Posted by: Diabetes.co.uk (the global diabetes community)co.uk - The Global Diabetes Community
Findings from patient research by Veterans Affairs clinics in the United States, has revealed that people with diabetes had suffered a reduced amount of foot and leg amputations due to their condition.
The study, which reviewed all patients at its clinics who had diabetes over a four-year period, and also those who later underwent amputations paid for by Medicare, found that amputations among diabetics fell by as much as 36 percent, once factors such as age and gender had been taken into account. The amount of amputations carried out on diabetics fell from around seven in 1,000 patients in 2000 to between four and five per 1,000 in 2004, with the greatest reduction being for those having amputations above the knee.
However, the reasons for this reduction in amputation rates are not so clear, but could be explained by the earlier detection of diabetes, greater access to aggressive medical therapies and lifestyle changes for its treatment.
The National Institutes of Health has also reported that 65,000 people with diabetes had a foot or leg amputation in 2006 in the US, although it is not obvious if the results from the Veteran Affairs study can be applied to the population in the US in general.
The study, which reviewed all patients at its clinics who had diabetes over a four-year period, and also those who later underwent amputations paid for by Medicare, found that amputations among diabetics fell by as much as 36 percent, once factors such as age and gender had been taken into account. The amount of amputations carried out on diabetics fell from around seven in 1,000 patients in 2000 to between four and five per 1,000 in 2004, with the greatest reduction being for those having amputations above the knee.
However, the reasons for this reduction in amputation rates are not so clear, but could be explained by the earlier detection of diabetes, greater access to aggressive medical therapies and lifestyle changes for its treatment.
The National Institutes of Health has also reported that 65,000 people with diabetes had a foot or leg amputation in 2006 in the US, although it is not obvious if the results from the Veteran Affairs study can be applied to the population in the US in general.
Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or http://www.walkwithdiabetes.com/ The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.
Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures. In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries. This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time. Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery. Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options). Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!
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