Surgical treatment in diabetic patients with plantar perforator disease

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is one of the greatest global health emergencies of the 21st century. In Cuba, there is a high proportion of diabetics over the age of 60. One of the main chronic complications of this disease, as a result of micro- and macrovascular damage, is diabetic foot. This is a health problem with major consequences for the patient from a bio-psycho-social point of view.

Objective: To characterize the behavior of surgical treatment in diabetic patients with plantar perforation disease.

Methods: A longitudinal and prospective-descriptive-observational study was conducted at "Capitán Roberto Rodríguez Fernández" General Teaching Hospital, between March 2017 and September 2022.

Results: The sample consisted of 82 patients of both sexes, with diabetic foot ulcers, plantar perforator type that required surgical treatment. Males predominated in ages from 50 to 60. The lesions were most frequently located in the metatarsal, followed by the distal phalanges and calcaneus, while the most commonly used surgical technique was dorsal ostectomy. Complications with a low rate of amputations were uncommon. Healing time was less than two weeks in most of the sample.

Conclusions: The surgical treatment of diabetic patients with plantar perforation disease in this study did not present a significant level of statistical evidence, in terms of comparison with international scientific information on this disease.