The role of trace elements in wagner classified diabetic patıents

Abstract

Wagner's classification is the most widely used grading system in diabetic foot infections. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the role of the trace elements in diabetic foot infected patients graded with
Wagner's classification. This prospective study was carried out on 50 diabetic patients with variable
severity of foot infections and 50 age and sex matched healthy subjects in Dicle University, Turkey,
between October 2006 and November 2008. Diabetic foot infections were graded according to Wagner
classification and deep tissue cultures were performed from all diabetic foot infected patients. The
atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used in the measurement of trace elements in the serum.
serum zinc and copper levels were significantly elevated in patients with Wagner 3 and 4 compared to
Wagner 2 and 1 graded patients and healthy controls. Also Wagner 1 and 2 graded patients had higher
serum zinc levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). This study confirms that trace elements may
be used as a leading sign to determine the severity of infections in diabetic foot wounds and may be
used to predict outcome of diabetic foot infections.