WAGNER’S CLASSIFICATION FOR DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS- IS IT STILL RELEVANT?

Abstract

BACKGROUND Diabetes is a rapidly growing problem worldwide, making it one of the most challenging health problems in the 21st century. The loss of a limb or foot is one of the most feared complications of diabetes and yet foot problems remain the commonest reason for diabetic patients to be hospitalised. The main emphasis of the current international guidelines on the management of the diabetic foot is prevention, early recognition and treatment. Although, there are many classification systems, the Wagner's classification is a simple clinical classification which helps to classify foot ulcers and plan treatment accordingly. MATERIALS AND METHODS 65 diabetic foot ulcer patients who were admitted in Assam Medical College and Hospital, over a period of one year, were classified on the basis of Wagner's classification and their outcome studied. RESULTS Early grade ulcers had favourable outcome. Grade 4 and 5 ulcers had poor glycaemic control and required some form of amputation. CONCLUSION Wagner's classification is a simple clinical classification, easy to comprehend and apply. It has a definite role in predicting outcome of diabetic foot ulcers.