Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS)

Patients with diabetic foot syndrome are in the best hands with our vascular surgery team and other specialist disciplines such as trauma surgery and orthopaedics, plastic surgery and dermatology. Due to the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in the general population, the early and late complications of diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) are becoming more common in everyday clinical practice.

Risk factors

In the worst cases, the ulcers or deformities on the foot can lead to loss of a toe, minor amputation (amputation below the ankle) or major amputation (amputation above the ankle with loss of the lower and/or upper leg).

It is only through close cooperation between several specialist disciplines that the treatment of diabetic foot can be optimised and the risk of amputation reduced. These include:

• Diabetic polyneuropathy (nerve damage with reduced sensation of pain and touch in diabetics)
• Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD), which is made worse by diabetes
• Reduced immune defence
• Reduced joint mobility 
• Unsuitable footwear

Risk of amputation

In the worst case, the ulcers or deformities on the foot can lead to the loss of a toe, a minor amputation or a major amputation, an amputation above the ankle joint.

It is only through close cooperation between several specialist disciplines that the treatment of diabetic foot can be optimised and the risk of amputation reduced. These include:

• Vascular surgery (surgical/endovascular improvement of blood circulation, hybrid procedures, surgical repair of ulcers)
• Radiology (imaging of the bones and tissues of the foot, interventional improvement of circulation)
• Infectiology (complex antimicrobial treatment of multi-resistant pathogens)
• Plastic surgery (coverage of large soft tissue defects)
• Diabetology (adjustment of antidiabetic therapy for frequently derailed blood glucose levels); and
• Orthopaedics (fitting appropriate footwear)

Our highly specialised vascular surgery team and other specialist disciplines manage patients with diabetic foot syndrome from diagnosis through to treatment and aftercare.