Evaluation of a multidisciplinary consultation of diabetic foot

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary consultation of diabetic foot in terms of ulcer healing rate and podiatric complications prevention. Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted on 78 patients consulting multidisciplinary clinic of diabetic foot between the 1st January 2005 and the 31th December 2006. There were two evaluations: the first one in June 2008, the second one in January 2010, at a medium follow-up of 48 months. Results: 30.8% of diabetic patients were addressed in primary prevention, 53.8% for treatment of foot ulcer, and 15.4% in secondary prevention. The global healing rate was 76.19% after a medium follow-up of 29 months, and the recurrence rate at a medium follow-up of 48 months was 9.52%. Healing was achieved in 63.6% of patients with off-loading shoes versus 81.8% of whom with fiberglass cast boot. Conclusion: Care and follow-up of diabetic patients with foot at risk in multidisciplinary consultation seem to be effective not only in curative treatment, but also in primary and secondary prevention. The economic benefits need to be evaluated. © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS.