Diabetic Foot Salvage Treatment
Over 85% of diabetic amputations in India are preventable — if the foot reaches a vascular surgeon in time. Dr. Pritee Sharma runs a dedicated diabetic foot salvage programme at Renova Century Hospital, Banjara Hills, combining revascularisation, infection control, advanced wound care and offloading under a single team.
Diabetes damages both the small nerves (neuropathy) and the arteries (PAD) of the foot. A minor injury — an ill-fitting chappal, a hot tile, an unnoticed pebble — becomes infected, and poor blood supply stops it from healing. Within days, a tiny blister becomes a deep ulcer, then cellulitis, then gangrene threatening the leg.
Saving the limb requires three things in the right order: restoring blood flow, controlling infection and offloading pressure from the wound. Antibiotics and dressings alone cannot heal an ischemic foot — revascularisation comes first.
Dr. Sharma's programme integrates vascular imaging (ABI, duplex, CT angiography), endovascular revascularisation (angioplasty, atherectomy, stenting), surgical debridement, negative-pressure wound therapy, offloading and diabetology input — under one roof, on one timeline.
Take the next step toward healthier vessels
Book a consultation with Dr. Pritee Sharma at Renova Century Hospital, Banjara Hills.
Symptoms to watch for
- Non-healing ulcer or blister on the foot or toe
- Black or blue discoloration of a toe (dry gangrene)
- Foul-smelling discharge from a foot wound (wet gangrene)
- Swelling, redness or fever (foot infection — emergency)
- Pain at rest, especially at night, in a diabetic foot
- Numbness or burning in the soles ('walking on cotton')
- Sudden cold, pale foot (acute limb ischemia — emergency)
Common causes & risk factors
- Long-standing or uncontrolled diabetes
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy — loss of protective sensation
- Peripheral artery disease
- Minor trauma — footwear, barefoot walking, hot water burns
- Fungal infection between toes opening an entry point for bacteria
- Poor foot hygiene and untrimmed nails
- Smoking — accelerates arterial blockage
How Dr. Pritee Sharma treats this condition
Urgent Vascular Assessment
ABI, duplex ultrasound and CT angiography identify exactly where blood flow is blocked and whether revascularisation is feasible.
Revascularisation
Below-knee angioplasty, atherectomy, stenting or bypass to restore pure arterial blood to the foot — the single most important step for healing.
Surgical Debridement
Dead and infected tissue is removed in theatre under anaesthesia, leaving a clean wound bed ready to heal.
Infection Control
Targeted IV antibiotics guided by deep tissue culture, drainage of abscesses, and management of underlying osteomyelitis.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (VAC)
Accelerates granulation, reduces dressing changes and shortens healing time in deep diabetic wounds.
Minor Toe / Ray Amputation
When tissue loss is unavoidable, the smallest possible amputation preserves a functional, weight-bearing foot.
Offloading & Custom Footwear
Total contact casts, removable walkers and custom diabetic footwear protect the healing wound.
Long-term Foot Protection
Structured follow-up, diabetes optimisation and patient education prevent recurrence.
Why early care matters
- Up to 85% of major amputations are preventable with timely vascular intervention
- Faster wound healing — weeks instead of months
- Shorter hospital stay and lower out-of-pocket cost
- Preserves walking ability and independence
- Significantly improves long-term survival
- Reduces psychological impact of limb loss on patient and family
Why choose Dr. Pritee Sharma
- Vascular-surgeon-led programme — not just dressings
- On-site cath lab and operating theatre for same-week revascularisation
- Round-the-clock diabetic foot emergency service
- Integrated diabetology, plastic surgery and rehabilitation
- Hundreds of limbs saved across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
In the majority of cases, yes — provided blood flow can be restored. Even patients told elsewhere they need a major amputation often turn out to be candidates for limb salvage.
Immediately for any non-healing wound, black toe, foul discharge, rest pain at night, or a cold/pale foot. Routine annual vascular screening is recommended for all diabetics over 50, smokers and patients with kidney disease.
Yes. It is a pinhole, day-care procedure under local anaesthesia and is safely done even in patients in their 80s with multiple comorbidities.
Daily foot inspection, soft closed footwear with MCR insoles, never walking barefoot, professional nail care, strict glycaemic control and an annual vascular check.
What to expect during recovery
- Hospital stay 3–7 days for combined revascularisation + debridement
- Out-patient dressings 2–3 times a week initially
- Complete ulcer healing typically in 6–12 weeks once flow is restored
- Strict glycaemic control (HbA1c < 7) and antiplatelet therapy lifelong
- Custom diabetic footwear for life — never barefoot walking
- Re-examination every 3 months for life; the risk of a second ulcer is highest in the first 2 years
Why this matters in Hyderabad
- Telangana has urban diabetes prevalence above 14% — diabetic foot is one of the most common emergency vascular admissions across Hyderabad.
- Many patients are referred late, after multiple courses of antibiotics elsewhere without vascular assessment — delaying revascularisation costs limbs.
- Renova Century Hospital integrates vascular surgery, diabetology, plastic surgery, microbiology and rehabilitation in a single team — uncommon in India.
Dr. Pritee Sharma — Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon
21+ years of dedicated vascular and endovascular surgical experience.
- MBBS — Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai
- MS (General Surgery)
- DNB Peripheral Vascular Surgery — Gold Medalist (awarded by the Hon'ble Ex Vice President of India)
- Fellowship in Endovascular Surgery
- Head of Department, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery — Renova Century Hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
- Former Consultant — Army Hospital Research & Referral, Delhi
- Member — Vascular Society of India (VSI)
- Member — Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons
Concerned about diabetic foot salvage treatment?
Get a personalised assessment and treatment plan from Dr. Pritee Sharma.