Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Their Surgical Management: Our Experience at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar

Background: Surgeons face a therapeutic challenge while treating diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), particularly in underdeveloped nations with limited healthcare resources and a high proportion of patients who arrive at medical institutions with advanced foot ulcers. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of treatment in patients with DFUs and to demonstrate how early surgical intervention and appropriate bedside medical care can improve results. Material and methods: This prospective study was carried out at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, to assess how DFUs changed over a period between November 2021 and December 2022 at the wards and at the outpatient department of endocrinology and general surgery. A diabetic patient's foot is first screened for ulceration in the endocrinology department, and only those with active ulcers are referred to the surgical department. Results: According to the Wagner classification, there were six (13.6%) cases in grade I, 11 (25%) in grade 2, 10 (22.7%) in grade 3, 13 (29.5%) in grade 4, and four (9%) in grade 5. Among comorbidities, a family history of diabetes mellitus was noted in 25 (56.8%) patients, followed by tobacco chewing and alcohol in 10 (22.7%) and hypertension in nine (20.4%) patients. Conclusion: Diabetes foot ulceration is the most common reason for non-traumatic lower limb amputation in people with diabetes mellitus and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.