Risk factors associated with amputations in patients with diabetic foot infection. Seven years of experience in a reference hospital in Panama. The diabetic foot study group at Chiriqui (the FOOTCHI study group)

Aims: To determine the risk factors associated with amputations in hospitalized patients with diabetic foot infection. Methods: this is a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Panama between January 2010 and December 2016. We included all patients admitted to the hospital with diabetes and diabetic foot infection. A total of 351 patients were included, and a survey to assess for demographic and clinical factors was completed prospectively until discharge. The outcome was lower limb amputation. Results: Sixty-one participants (17.4 %) required a lower limb amputation, and 22 (36.1 %) were major amputations. Several factors were associated with amputation in the univariate analysis: history of foot infection, history of amputation, peripheral arterial disease, a major index ulcer area, duration of the index ulcer >30 days, Grade III 3D severity according to Texas scale, a greater IDSA classification, the presence of necrosis and osteomyelitis. Nevertheless, multiple logistic regression revealed significant relationships between amputations and necrosis (P