Visit www.kci1.com
Diabetic Foot Wounds Home
Diabetic Foot Wounds and Amputations

The Impact of Diabetic Foot Wounds in the U.S.

For diabetic patients, the most common complications of their disease are often the most devastating. Poor circulation, neuropathy and injury can all contribute to the formation of diabetic foot wounds. Because these wounds are difficult to treat, the complications can be devastating.

U.S. Facts:
  • 23.6 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States.9
  • There is a 15-25% lifetime risk for foot ulcer development in diabetic patients.27,23
  • There is a 10 times higher rate of amputation for diabetics than for non-diabetics.1
    • 85% of amputations are preceded by non-healing foot ulcer.23
    • More than 100,000 diabetic patients had a foot amputation in 2007.9
    • Within 5 years following an initial amputation, up to 51% of diabetic amputees have undergone a second leg amputation.26
    • 69% of diabetic amputees will not survive past five years.4
  • Diabetic foot ulcer treatments have an annual cost of $1.5 billion to the Medicare system.16
    • 70%: Percentage of cost due to hospitalization in patients with lower extremity ulcers.14
    • The cost of a lower extremity amputation has been estimated to be $30,000 to $60,000, with an additional $43,000 to $60,000 for subsequent care for 3 years.13
  • In 1998, the average cost per episode of treating a lower extremity diabetic ulcer was $4,59517; by 2007, the average cost had risen to $8,000.10 The average cost rises to $17,000 for infected ulcers.10