DIABETIC HAND

Setting: A case series study held at surgical unit 1. BV Hospital Bahawalpur. Period: Study was conducted from June 2006 toMay 2009, to evaluate various aspects of diabetic hand and to establish a protocol to manage it. Material & Methods: All diabetic patients presented with hand infection to the unit during this time were included in the study but patients having classical diabetic hand syndrome were excluded. Total 48 patients were admitted during the period under review. Male to female ratio was 2:1 and age was ranged from 31 to 48 years. Data was collected on Performa and shifted to computer program SPSS version 12. All patients were manual workers or house wives and 40 patients gave history of minor trauma to the digits during work. All patients were either undiagnosed (16 patients) or had uncontrolled diabetes. Most of them delayed seeking advice for their trauma & infection of hand properly. During treatment, 30 patients (62.5%) required amputation of one or more digits of the dominant hand including amputation of thumb in 19. Only 4 patients (8.33%) ended up in amputation of hand, whereas, no patient required amputation of forearm. No mortality was seen during study period. It was concluded that diabetic hand involves persons in active life period relatively in younger age group. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes is major contributory factor. Health Education, early diagnosis & prompt treatment in specialized units may be helpful.