The purpose of this study is to investigate the outcomes of diabetic individuals with ischemic heel ulcers. The study group was composed of a consecutive sample of persons with diabetic ischemic foot ulcers managed by a preset multidisciplinary limb salvage protocol, including revascularization through endovascular technique. The outcome measures were healing, major amputation (above the ankle), and death at 1-year of follow-up. The outcomes between patients with heel ulcers (HUs) and without (NHUs) were compared. A total of 254 patients were recruited. There were 50/254 (19.7%) HUs and 204/254 (79.3%) NHUs. Overall, 190/254 (74.8%) patients healed. The rate of healing for HUs and NHUs was 30/50 (60%) and 160/204 (78.4%); P = .03, respectively. Major amputation occurred in 24/254 (9.4%) patients. The rates of major amputation for HUs and NHUs were 10/50 (20%) and 14/204 (6.9%; P = .002), respectively; 40/254 (15.7%) patients died, unhealed. The rates of mortality for HUs and NHUs were 10/50 (20%) and 30/204 (14.7%; P = .07), respectively. In HUs patients, absence of infection [95% CI = 3.1 (1.6-5.5); P = .002] and superficial ulcers [95% CI = 4.4 (2.2-9.3); P = .0001] were independent predictors of healing, whereas revascularization failure [95% CI = 8.1 (1.5.0-19.4); P = .0001], involvement of the plantar arch [95% CI = 6.3 (2.0-15.4); P = .0001], and dialysis [95% CI = 2.2 (1.3-4.5); P = .006] were independent predictors of major amputation. A multidisciplinary approach achieves good rate of limb salvage in people with diabetic ischemic heel ulcers.
Keywords: diabetes; diabetic foot; heel ulcers; limb salvage.