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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2021; 129(10): 713-721
DOI: 10.1055/a-1025-3766
Article

Is the Preoperative Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) Level Predictive of the Severity of Diabetic Hand Infection According to Surgical and Clinical Outcomes?

Kaan Gürbüz
1   Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
,
Yakup Ekinci
1   Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
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Abstract

Objective We purposed to investigate whether preoperative HbA1c level is associated with the severity of surgical treatment in diabetic hand infection cases.

Materials and Methods Between December 2015 and October 2018, 102 patients were surgically treated due to diabetic hand infection. Of the patients, 75 who met the criteria for diabetic hand infection were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1, < 8.5% HbA1c level (poorly controlled); and Group 2, 8.5% or higher HbA1c level (uncontrolled). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were recorded. Drainage, VAC, ray/open amputation, and microsurgical reconstruction were performed according to the examination and clinical findings. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results The study groups consisted of 41 patients (5 female/36 male; median age 59 years, range 32–68) in Group 1 and 34 patients (6 female/28 male; median age 62 years, range 28–67) in Group 2. The mean follow-up period was 21.14±10.42 months in Group 1 and 16.70±10.19 months in Group 2, which were not significantly different (p>0.05). The most common microbiological pathogen was polymicrobial in both study groups (39% in Group 1 and 41.2% in Group 2). Drainage was the most common surgical procedure in both groups and there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the surgical techniques that were used (p>0.05).

Conclusion Although HbA1c level is an important biomarker for monitoring glycemia in diabetic patients, it is not associated with the severity of surgical treatment in diabetic hand infections.

Key words

diabetes - hand infection - HbA1c, surgical and clinical outcomes


Publication History

Received: 17 July 2019
Received: 31 August 2019

Accepted: 10 October 2019

Article published online:
05 November 2019

© 2019. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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