Hisham R. Ashry

Variation in the Incidence and Proportion of Diabetes-Related Amputations in Minorities

OBJECTIVE To identify the age-adjusted and level-specific incidence of amputations associated with diabetes in Hispanics, African-Americans, and non-Hispanic whites. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used a database from the Office of Statewide Planning and Development in California that identified all hospitalizations for lower-extremity amputations in the state in 1991. Amputation level was defined by ICD-9-CM codes 84.11–84.18 and were categorized as toe, foot, leg, and thigh amputations. RESULTS The age-adjusted incidence of diabetes-related amputation per 10,000 persons with diabetes in 1991 was 95.25 in African-Americans, 55.98 in non-Hispanic whites, and 44.43 in Hispanics. Hispanics had a higher proportion of amputations (82.7%) associated with diabetes than did African-Americans (61.6%) or non-Hispanic whites (56.8%) (P < 0.001). African-Americans had the highest age-adjusted incidence rate for each level in people with and without diabetes. African-Americans underwent more proximal amputations compared with non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics (P < 0.001). Diabetes-related amputations were 1.72 and 2.17 times more likely in African-Americans compared with non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Hispanics had proportionally more amputations associated with diabetes than did African-Americans or non-Hispanic whites. A significant excess incidence of both diabetes- and non-diabetes-related amputations and proportionally more proximal amputations were identified in African-Americans compared with Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. A possible explanation could be the higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease in African-Americans. Public health initiatives, which have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of diabetes-related lower-extremity amputations, should be implemented, and additional work should focus on minority groups.

Leukocytosis is a poor indicator of acute osteomyelitis of the foot in diabetes mellitus

The purpose of this article is to describe the frequency of leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in a series of diabetics with acute foot infections and osteomyelitis due to neuropathic foot ulcerations. The authors reviewed the admission records of 28 type II diabetic patients admitted to University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas between January 1, 1990 and December 30, 1992 with acute osteomyelitis of the foot secondary to neuropathic ulceration. The mean white blood cell count on admission for all subjects studied was calculated at 11.9 +/- 5.4 x 10(3) cells/mm3. Of all white blood cell counts collected for patients admitted with acute osteomyelitis of the foot, 54% were within normal limits. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated in 96% of patients. Oral temperature was normal in 82% of patients. The authors conclude that a normal white cell count should not deter one from taking appropriate action to mitigate the propagation of a potentially limb-threatening foot infection.

Effectiveness of diabetic insoles to reduce foot pressures

The F-Scan system was used to measure peak plantar pressures in 11 diabetics each with a unilateral great toe amputation and an intact contralateral extremity (nonamputated), to evaluate the effectiveness of five footwear-insole strategies: 1) extra-depth shoes without an insole, 2) extra-depth shoes with a Plastizote insole, 3) extra-depth shoes with a Plastizote insole and a metatarsal pad, 4) extra-depth shoes with a Plastizote insole and a medial longitudinal arch pad, and 5) extra-depth shoes with a Plastizote insole and a combination of metatarsal pad and arch pad. When we compared extra-depth shoes with and without insoles, peak pressures were significantly reduced with insoles under the first metatarsal, the lesser metatarsals, and the heel (p < 0.001) in feet with and without an amputation, as well as under the great toe on the contralateral foot (nonamputated, p < 0.001), but not under the lesser toes (giant toe, p = 0.088; nonamputated, p = 0.763). There was no significant difference between the different insole modifications.

Mortality following lower extremity amputation in minorities with diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to identify the age adjusted and level specific mortality rate in African-Americans, Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) during the perioperative period following a lower extremity amputation. We identified amputation data obtained from the Office of Statewide Planning and Development in California for 1991 from ICD-9-CM codes 84.11-84.18 and diabetes mellitus from any 250 related code. Amputations were categorized as foot (84.11-84.12), leg (84.13-84.16) or thigh (84.17-84.18). Death was coded under discharge status. Age adjusted and level specific mortality rates per 1000 amputees were calculated for each race/ethnic group. The age adjusted mortality was highest for African-Americans (41.39) compared to Hispanics (19.69) and NHWs (34.98). Mortality was consistently more frequent for proximal amputations. We conclude that mortality rates for persons with diabetes hospitalized for an amputation varied by race, gender and level of amputation. Higher prevalence or severity of risk factors may explain the excess mortality observed in African-Americans.

Cost of diabetes-related amputations in minorities

The objective of this study was to identify the direct cost and length of hospitalization of diabetes-related lower extremity amputations among Hispanics, African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Asians. The authors used a database from the office of Statewide Planning and Development in California that identified all hospitalizations for lower extremity amputations in the state in 1991. Amputation level was defined by the ICD-9-CM codes 84.11-84.18. The total hospital charges for diabetes-related lower extremity amputations for the state of California in 1991 was

A quantitative assessment of healing sandals and postoperative shoes in offloading the neuropathic diabetic foot.

141 million. The mean hospital charge (HC) per patient with all ethnic groups combined was

NOVEL METHODOLOGY TO OBTAIN SALIENT BIOMECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INSOLE MATERIALS

27,930; and the mean length of stay (LOS) was 15.9 days. African Americans had significantly higher mean charges (

1995 William J. Stickel Silver Award. Structural analysis of absorbable pin and screw fixation in first metatarsal osteotomies.

32,383) and longer stays (17.3 days) compared to all other ethnic groups (p < .05). Toe-level amputations had lower HC (p < .05) and LOS (p < .01) than other amputation levels for all race groups. One-quarter of the population received multiple amputations during their hospital stay. These patients incurred significantly higher hospital charges (

1993 William J. Stickel Gold Award. Stability of absorbable fixation in basilar first metatarsal osteotomies.

44,731) and stayed in the hospital longer (23.4 days) than those receiving only a single amputation. There was a considerable variation in the HC and LOS among ethnic groups by level of amputation. The direct charges reported in this study suggest considerably higher overall direct costs than have been previously reported in the medical literature. The greater burden of disease experienced by African Americans is probably related to their higher amputation cost and longer hospitalization.

A Novel Methodology To Obtain Salient Biomechanical Characteristics Of Insole Materials

The purpose of this report is to compare plantar pressures between custom healing sandals and postoperative shoes using unmodified prescription shoe gear as a control. Using a repeat measures design, we recorded the plantar forefoot pressures of eight patients classified as diabetic foot category 1 (neuropathy, no significant deformity, no history of ulceration) with each ambulating in three devices: 1) unmodified prescription shoe gear, 2) postoperative shoe gear, and 3) a custom-fabricated healing sandal. Each subject served as his or her own control. The healing sandal significantly reduced plantar forefoot pressure in all areas of the forefoot except the fifth metatarsal head. The postoperative shoe did not significantly reduce pressure at any site in the forefoot when compared with unmodified prescription shoe gear.