How ESKD complicates the management of diabetic foot ulcers: The vital role of the dialysis team in prevention,early detection,and support of multidisciplinary treatment to reduce lower extremity amputations

Diabetic foot ulcers do not heal as well in ESKD as in the absence of kidney failure, and rates of recurrent foot ulcers, as well as lower extremity amputation, are higher. This review of the literature highlights the vital role of the dialysis team in prevention, early detection, and support of treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Our review has five goals—(a) increase nephrologists’ understanding of the high morbidity and mortality associated with chronic foot ulcers and (lower extrimity) LE amputations in ESKD; (b) promote nephrologists’ understanding of grading systems for diabetic foot ulcer severity, in order to expedite communication with local diabetic foot experts; (c) promote collaboration between nephrologists and infectious disease specialists regarding the dose, route, and delivery logistics of intravenous antibiotics for infected chronic foot ulcers, in particular in the presence of osteomyelitis and other deep-seated infections; (d) increase the awareness of dialysis nurses, technicians, dietitians, social workers and administrators regarding evidence-based and multidisciplinary approaches to patients’ diabetic foot ulcers; (e) encourage the application of published works integrating patient-centered diabetic foot education into the dialysis setting to reduce lower extremity amputations.