Objective: To assess the predictive ability of the laboratory risk indicator for necrotising fasciitis (LRINEC) score for lower extremity amputation in patients with moderate to severe diabetic foot infection (DFI).
Study design: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from June to September 2023.
Methodology: Patients admitted to the surgical ward with moderate to severe DFI were included by convenience sampling. Patients with severe sepsis, unstable haemodynamics, pressure injuries, and terminal illnesses were excluded. Demographic and clinical data of patients were noted down. LRINEC score was calculated on the day of admission. Final outcome (amputation or otherwise) was recorded on the 30th day the since the day of admission.
Results: Two hundred patients with moderate to severe DFI were included. The median age of patients was 56 years (IQR 49-66 years). The median duration of diabetes was 11 years (IQR 4 - 18.75 years). The median LRINEC score at admission was 6 (IQR 3-9). The majority of the patients (65.5%) had some other medical comorbid besides diabetes. Patients who had amputation due to DFI at 30 days post-admission had higher LRINEC scores on admission as compared to those patients who did not have amputation (Median 8 vs. 2, p <0.001). The cut-off point of LRINEC score ≥6.5 at admission had sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 94% in predicting amputation.
Conclusion: The LRINEC score may be used as an objective scoring system to predict the risk of amputation in patients with moderate to severe DFI in indoor clinical settings.
Key words: Diabetic foot, LRINEC score, Limb loss, Necrotising fasciitis.