Foot and Ankle
Managing infection is a significant challenge for surgeons treating patients with lower extremity problems such as diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Initially treated in a community setting, these cases deteriorate over time and many require hospitalisation – and ultimately amputation.
Foot complications, including diabetes-related lower-extremity problems, impacted 131 million individuals, globally (1.8% of the population) in 2016 – including 18.6-million-foot ulcers and 6.8 million amputations.1
Global impact of diabetes-related lower extremity complications in 2016 with 131 million affected
In the USA, hospitalised DFO and DFU cases over the last 5-years have been growing at 8% per annum and account for over 500,000 patients every year – and more than 230,000 amputations. At this rate there will be over 750,000 DFO/DFU patients annually by 2026.2
Total ankle joint replacement surgery in the USA also continues to grow rapidly at an annual rate of 14%, with lower extremity procedures carrying a higher risk of surgical site infection (SSI) of up to 6.5% compared to up to 3.6% for elective orthopaedic surgeries such as knee and hip arthroplasty.3
