EVALUATION OF DIABETIC ULCER SEVERITY SCORE IN PREDICTING OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCER

Background: The Diabetic foot is more a syndrome rather than a disease. India has been called “the 2 diabetes capital of the world,” and “every fth diabetic in the world is an Indian.” DUSS (Diabetic Ulcer Severity Score) is one of the latest wound-based system of classication. Application of this scoring system has not been studied in Indian patients. As this scoring system can predict amputation rates. Method: 150 diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcer (20-60 years) enrolled in the study. Data was collected by using predesigned questionnaire which consisted of standard questions were interviewed. Clinical examination, diagnosis and all relevant investigations were done. Patients were followed up till they were discharged. Results: In our study 78(52%) patients belong to 40-60 year of age group followed by 64(42.67%) in 60-80 year of age group and 8(5.33%) patients belongs to 20-40 year of age group with male preponderance. All the cases had Diabetic foot ulcer, and Hypertension was the most common associated Co-morbidity. In present study 52 (34.67%) patients belong to score 1 followed by 33(22%) patients of score 3, 29(19.33%) patients belong to score 4,25(16.66%) patients grouped under score 2 and least patients11(7.33%) belong to score 0. Our study shows highest rate of healing 9(81.82%) with score 0 followed by 34 (65.38%) with score 1and none of the patients belonged to score 4. This study shows maximum minor amputation 10 (40%) with score 2 followed by 17(32.69%) minor amputations in score 1 and maximum number of major amputations 29(100%) in score 4 followed by 23(69.7%) major amputations with score 3. This study maximum number of patients 29(100%) from score 4 underwent major amputations followed by 23(69.7%) patients from score 3, followed by 2(8%) patients with score 2, only 1(1.92%) patient with score 1 underwent major amputation. None of the patients from score 0 were subjected to major amputation 0 (0%). This shows that major amputation rate increases as DUSS score increases.