Miriam Kozárová, Mária Rašiová, Robert Magyar, Eva Szabóová, Rastislav Morochovič, Eva Feketeová, Zuzana Gdovinová
Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is defined as ulceration or a defect of the deep tissue distally from the ankle including the ankle. Approximately 40-60% of non-traumatic lower limb amputations are done in patients with diabetes. In 85 % cases the amputation is preceded by ulceration which was potentially treatable. Four out of five ulcerations in diabetics result from an external trauma, most often due to wearing wrong shoes. Patients who underwent amputation are at high mortality risk over the next five years. Saint Vincent Declaration (1989) assumed that improving in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot syndrome will reduce the number of amputations by 50 %. The achievement of these goals, however, can be expected only in specialized podiatric centres with the multidisciplinary approach.