Beckert et al developed a scoring system for grading the severity of a diabetic foot ulcer. This can help identify a patient who may require more aggressive management. The authors are from the University of Tubingen in Germany.
Parameters:
(1) pedal pulses
(2) bone involvement on probing ulcer base
(3) site of ulcer
(4) number of ulcerations (presumably on the same foot)
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
---|---|---|
pedal pulses |
present |
0 |
|
absent |
1 |
bone involvement |
absent |
0 |
|
present |
1 |
site of ulcer |
toe |
0 |
|
foot |
1 |
number of ulcers |
1 |
0 |
|
>= 2 |
1 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 4
• The higher the score the more severe the ulcer (larger in size, longer time to heal, more likely to need surgery, more likely to be amputated).
Score |
Probability of Being Healed at 1 Year |
0 |
94% |
1 |
82% |
2 |
74% |
3 |
64% |
4 |
56% |
Purpose: To evaluate a patient with a diabetic foot ulcer using the Diabetic Ulcer Severity Score (DUSS) of Beckert et al.
Specialty: Dermatology, Endocrinology, Surgery, general, Surgery, orthopedic
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage
ICD-10: E10, L97,