Who, What, Where: Demographics, Severity of Presentation, and Location of Treatment Drive Delivery of Diabetic Limb Reconstructive Services within the National Inpatient Sample

This study seeks to determine the role of patient- and hospital-level characteristics that affect use. Methods: Admissions for diabetic lower extremity complications were identified in the 2012 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. The study cohort consisted of admitted patients receiving amputations, limb salvage without flap techniques, or advanced limb salvage with flap techniques. Multinomial regression analysis accounting for the complex survey design of the National Inpatient Sample was used to determine the independent contributions of factors expressed as marginal effects. Results: The authors’ study cohort represented 155,025 admissions nationally. White non-Hispanic patients had the highest proportion of reconstruction without and with flaps, whereas black patients had the lowest. Multinomial regression models revealed that controlling for nongas gangrene and critical limb ischemia, both of which have a much greater incidence in minorities, the effect of race against receipt of reconstructive modalities was attenuated. Access to urban teaching hospitals was the strongest protective factor against amputation (9 percent reduction; p
Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Category: Cosmetic Surgery Tags: Reconstructive: Lower Extremity: Original Articles Source Type: research