Diabetic foot classification

Diabetic foot Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Diabetic foot from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
X Ray
CT
MRI
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Diabetic foot classification On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Diabetic foot classification All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Diabetic foot classification
CDC on Diabetic foot classification
Diabetic foot classification in the news
Blogs on Diabetic foot classification
Directions to Hospitals Treating Diabetic foot
Risk calculators and risk factors for Diabetic foot classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Daniel A. Gerber, M.D. [2]

Overview

Diabetic foot is classified according to its severity and factors such as the requirement of oral or parenteral antibiotics, outpatient management or hospitalization, and surgical intervention.

Classification

• Diabetic foot infections are classified according to the severity of involvement to assist with clinical decision-making regarding the need for oral or parenteral antibiotics, outpatient management or hospitalization, and surgical intervention.
• The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) introduced a classification scheme for these infections in their 2004 guidelines, broadly categorized as mild, moderate, and severe infections based upon the extent of infection and inflammation.
• The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) published a similar classification system in 2012.
• The aforementioned systems were externally validated in a longitudinal study to assess prognostic value, which demonstrated increased risk for amputation among patients with infections classified as severe.

Clinical Manifestation PEDIS Grade IDSA Severity No symptoms or signs of infection 1 Uninfected Local infection involving only the skin and the subcutaneous tissue without involvement of deeper tissues and without signs of SIRS If erythema, must be >0.5 cm to ≤2 cm around the ulcer. Exclude other causes of an inflammatory response of the skin (eg, trauma, gout, acute charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy, fracture, thrombosis, venous stasis). 2 Mild Local infection with erythema >2 cm or involving structures deeper than skin and subcutaneous tissues (eg, abscess, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, fasciitis) without signs of SIRS 3 Moderate Local infection with the signs of SIRS, as manifested by ≥2 of the following: Temperature >38 °C or <36 °C Heart rate >90 beats/min Respiratory rate >20 breaths/min or PaCO2 <32 mm Hg White blood cell count >12,000 or <4,000 cells/μL or ≥10% immature (band) forms 4 Severe

• Another widely accepted diabetic foot ulcer classification is Wagner ulcer classification system, which uses some ulcer's features such as depth, in addition to presence of osteomyelitis or gangrene.
  • Unfortunately Wagner ulcer classification system does not address important factors such as ischemia and infection.
  • The following table is a summary of Wagner ulcer classification system:

Grade	Ulcer's Features
0	Not an obvious open lesion
1	Superficial ulcer with partial or full thickness
2	Extension of ulcer to other structures such as tendon, ligament, joint capsule, or deep fascia (without abscesses or osteomyelitis)
3	Extension of ulcer to other structures such as tendon, ligament, joint capsule, or deep fascia with abscesses, osteomyelitis or septic arthritis
4	Presence of gangrene, but localized to forefoot or heel
5	Presence of extensive gangrene

References

[[Category:Up-To-Date]