“ Assessment of Severity of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using Diabetic Ulcer Severity Score.”

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder, prevalence steadily increasing over the past few decades. The complications associated with it , hence , has also increased. Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most serious complications , utilizing resources, significantly contributing to the morbidity of the patient. There is hence, a need to correctly identify the severity of the diabetic foot ulcer so as to plan the appropriate management and to help in counselling of such patients. AIM : To assess severity in diabetic foot ulcer using diabetic ulcer severity score. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY : This is a hospital based longitudinal study , conducted on 93 study subjects admitted with diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic ulcer severity score was calculated for each patient . The score was calculated by adding scores of the respective parameters constituting site of ulcer, number of ulcers, presence/absence of pedal pulsations, presence/ absence of bone involvement. Each patient was followed up for a period of 6 months , or earlier in case of patient undergoing minor/major amputation. After the study was conducted , analysis was done by calculating various percentages of healing /amputation with respect to the score. RESULTS : Out of the total 93 study subjects , 74.2% were males. The mean age was calculated to be 59.6 years with maximum number of subjects being in 55-60 years of age group range. Majority of them had diabetic ulcer severity score of 2 (42%). Out of the total study subjects , 58% had a complete healing , 28% underwent minor amputation whereas 14% underwent major amputation. 100% of the study participants with score 0 had healing of ulcer which decreased to 85% for score 1 , 53.8% for score 2 , 6.25% for score 3 and 0% for score 4. This was suggestive of poorer chances of healing as the diabetic ulcer severity score increases. CONCLUSION : With the increasing incidence of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus , the rate of complications of diabetes has also increased over the past few decades including the risk and occurence of diabetic foot ulcers There is an increasing need for diabetic foot ulcer prognostication systems and universal use of the same. Thus ,we recommend the use of diabetic ulcer severity score as a prognostic tool to assess the severity of the diabetic foot which will further enhance communication and counselling of the patient and will help in providing the appropriate treatment to such patients.