This week’s “Foundation” articles is a guest editorial piece by Dr. David Armstrong that focuses on why, we as wound care providers do what we do. Often the diabetic foot ulceration is a problem that is marginalized by both the patient and very frequently by the physician referring you the ulcer for management. As wound care providers we understand that 85% of all major diabetic lower extremity amputations start off as a foot ulceration. Besides being a devastating event, a proximal lower extremity amputation also means something to the patient’s overall mortality. Simply stated the patient you see today who ends up with an amputation has a 50% chance of being alive in the next 5 years.

This is a quick read but should have a powerful impact on the way you both practice wound care and how you educate your patient’s and referring providers. I can guarantee you that the vast majority of patients and your medical colleagues were not aware of the mortality risk.

Fight hard to save the limb because you will be truly helping save a life.

Armstrong DG, Wrobel J, Robbins JM. Guest editorial: are diabetes related wounds and amputations worse than cancer? Int. Wound J 2007; 4: 286-87.