Diabetic Foot Surgery

About Diabetic Foot Surgery

Diabetic foot problems often start with subtle changes such as numbness, dry skin or callus over pressure areas. As neuropathy and poor circulation progress, ulcers, infections and deformity follow. Diabetic foot surgery in Lucknow at Kayakriti is offered when wounds will not heal with dressings alone, when infection threatens bone or limb, or when deformity creates repeated ulcer cycles.

Initial evaluation at our diabetic foot clinic combines clinical examination, sensation and vascular assessment, bloods, HbA1c and imaging. We map every callus, ulcer, deformity and pressure area. Patients with significant arterial disease are referred for vascular review, since reconstruction depends on adequate inflow. Diabetic wound care principles begin even before surgery with offloading and infection control.

Foot ulcer treatment in surgery includes debridement of necrotic tissue, drainage of abscesses, removal of infected bone and resection of pressure-causing prominences. Where toes or parts of the foot cannot be saved, careful amputation planning preserves walking function. Forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot surgeries follow specific principles to maintain a stable, plantigrade foot suited to long-term shoe wear.

Reconstruction uses skin grafts, local flaps and free flaps. Plantar surface defects often require specialised flaps that tolerate weight-bearing pressure. Tendon balancing procedures correct deformities such as claw toes and equinus contracture, reducing future ulcer risk. Each plan is individualised to wound location, available donor tissue, vascular status and the patient's overall medical condition.

Infection management remains central. Antibiotics are guided by tissue and bone cultures, with infection specialists involved when needed. Hospital stays are tailored to severity, often a few days for minor procedures and longer for major debridement and reconstruction. Pain control, glycaemic management and nutrition are addressed throughout admission, as wound healing depends on the whole patient, not just the foot.

Long-term follow-up continues at the diabetic foot clinic. Custom insoles, offloading footwear and structured education on daily foot inspection are central to preventing recurrence. Family involvement is encouraged. Periodic reviews track sensation, pulses and skin condition, with quick access for any new wound. Our goal is durable healing, preserved walking function and a foot that remains stable for years.

What to expect

• Comprehensive foot, vascular and metabolic assessment
• Imaging to identify deformity, abscess or osteomyelitis
• Debridement and ulcer surgery in controlled stages
• Corrective procedures for deformity and contracture
• Reconstruction with grafts, local flaps and free flaps
• Long-term diabetic foot clinic follow-up and offloading

Recovery

• Hospital stay tailored to procedure and infection severity
• Strict offloading with casts, boots or insoles after surgery
• Wound checks at one and two weeks, then monthly reviews
• Continued blood sugar, nutrition and circulation optimisation
• Preventive education and structured long-term follow-up