Diabetic Foot Surgery
Patient with diabetes sometimes have foot problems which can arise due to changes in sensation. Diabetes can damage the small nerves and blood vessels in the foot which leads to loss of the normal joint protective mechanisms. This can lead to damage to the small joints of the foot. This process is known as charcot neuroarthropathy.
Diabetic patients can have a variety of foot problems and as such there are a variety of operations that may be required.
Where possible the aim would be to do these operations using a minimally invasive technique. As diabetic patients have higher rates of wound complications that non-diabetic patients.
Success rates: a small number of patients have a complication after diabetic foot surgery
Pre-operatively it is critical to control blood sugar levels, this would typically in conjunction with your endocrinologist/diabetes specialist and in some cases we would organise a review with a perioperative physician.
Risks of surgery
Swelling, stiffness
Infection
Wound healing problems or infection
Scar sensitivity
Ongoing pain
Secondary surgery including removal of hardware
Bony non-union or malunion