Diabetes does not have a negative effect on Quality of Life in the long-term after Limb salvage with Infrageniculate Bypasses accompanied with minor amputations

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life in patients, who had their limbs salvaged with an infrageniculate bypass and minor amputation in the long term and to see if diabetics are prone to worse results.

Methods: The patients with limb salvage following an infrageniculate bypass and minor amputation were asked to complete Short Form 36 at the last follow-up visit. The mean scores in diabetic and non-diabetic population were compared to each other .The mean follow-up period was 58±8 months.

Results: Of 142 patients, 40 patients were eligible to be included in the study. 33 (82.5%) patients were male and 7 (17.5%) patients were female. The mean age at the time of intervention was 57±14 (33-83) years. The mean scores for eight domains of SF-36 evaluation ranged from 44 to 67 out of 100. There were no significant differences concerning the mean scores of any dimension between the diabetic and non-diabetic group.

Conclusion: Despite a minor amputation, the functional outcome of limb salvage with an infrageniculate bypass is favorable and diabetes does not seem to have negative effect on the functional outcome and Quality of Life.