For military veterans battling diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), mobility assurance outweighs fears of amputation. A new study conducted at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center reveals that veterans prioritize the ability to move independently, even if it means undergoing a more extensive amputation. The results were published in Diabetes Care. 

In a discrete choice experiment (DCE) involving 98 veterans with diabetes, researchers explored preferences surrounding limb salvage treatment for DFUs. The participants, predominantly older (average age 69), male (94%), and Black (61%), were presented with a series of hypothetical scenarios that varied in post-recovery mobility, amputation levels, and risk of future surgery.

The study found that post-recovery mobility had the most significant weight in treatment decisions, with a relative importance of 53%. Amputation level and the risk of future surgeries were considered less critical, at 30% and 18%, respectively.

The findings underscore that veterans were often willing to undergo a higher-level amputation if it meant they could walk unaided afterward. Significant declines in utility were noted when options involved using a wheelchair or scooter, highlighting how deeply veterans value independence in daily life. Mobility should be a priority in conversations between clinicians and patients managing DFUs.