FOOT PROBLEMS IN THE DIABETIC TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

Diabetic transplant recipients are at a high risk for foot pathology l eading to amputation. This retrospective study from 1/85 to 2/92 exami nes the risk of foot complications in a population (n=340) of diabetic renal and combined renal/pancreas transplant recipients. All groups s uffered high lower extremity amputation and foot fracture rates. Patie nts with better circulation and protective sensation intact fared bett er Smoking had a profoundly negative effect on the amputation rate as did an amputation prior to the transplant. Patients with pretransplant dialysis were at a higher risk for post-transplant amputation. Concom itant pancreas transplant did not in general significantly affect the risk of amputation or fracture. Females had almost twice the fracture rate of males.