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Yan K, Pogoda TK. Diabetes Management and Its Association with Transtibial Amputation. Journal of The American Podiatric Medical Association. 2015 May 1; 105(3):238-43.
BACKGROUND: Transtibial (TTA) and transfemoral (TFA) amputations are rarely considered as distinct events when examining major lower-limb amputation outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships among type 2 diabetes, diabetes management strategies, hemoglobin A1c levels, and other health factors related to TTA and TFA. METHODS: The retrospective medical record review included abstracting demographic and health-related data from the electronic medical records of 92 patients who received amputation-related services in a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. RESULTS: Patients who controlled their diabetes with insulin (with or without other oral agents) were significantly more likely to undergo TTA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-49.97; P = .03) compared with patients who controlled their diabetes through noninsulin medications or by diet. Patients who underwent no previous surgery (aOR = 6.66; 95% CI, 0.89-49.72; P = .06) or partial amputation only (aOR = 15.44; 95% CI, 1.04-228.29; P = .05) compared with a combination of partial amputation and bypass, thrombolectomy, or stent procedures were marginally to statistically significantly more likely to undergo TTA than TFA. CONCLUSIONS: The preferential association between TTA with insulin-dependent diabetes and higher hemoglobin A1c levels versus TFA with previous lower-limb bypasses, stent placement, and thrombolytic interventions distinguishes TTA and TFA as two distinct entities, and awareness of this difference may help clinicians design preventive strategies accordingly.