Table 4 Opinions of managing diabetes-related foot infection and osteomyelitis
| Total | Vascular surgeons | Orthopaedic surgeons | p-value 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usefulness for diagnosing diabetic foot osteomyelitis 1 | ||||
| Probe-to-bone test |
35/49 4 (3–5) |
19/29 4 (3–5) |
16/20 3 (2–4) | p = 0.082 |
| Bone biopsy |
35/49 3 (2–5) |
18/29 3 (2–4) |
17/20 4 (2–5) | p = 0.303 |
| Plain x-ray |
40/49 3 (2–4) |
22/29 3 (2–4) |
18/20 3.5 (2–4) | p = 0.757 |
| Magnetic resonance imaging |
39/49 4 (3–5) |
21/29 4 (3.5–5) |
18/20 4 (3–5) | p = 0.922 |
| Bone scan |
24/49 3 (2–4) |
12/29 3 (2–4) |
12/20 3 (2–3.75) | p = 0.478 |
| PET-CT scan |
19/49 3 (3–4) |
10/29 3 (2.75–4) |
9/20 4 (3–4) | p = 0.720 |
| Confidence in: 1 | ||||
| Wound dressing choice |
40/49 4 (3.25–5) |
21/29 5 (4–5) |
19/20 4 (3–4) | P = 0.065 |
| Antibiotic choice |
39/49 4 (4–5) |
21/29 4 (4–5) |
18/20 4 (3–4) | P = 0.053 |
| Antibiotic duration |
40/49 4 (3–4) |
22/29 3.5 (3–4) |
18/20 4 (3–4) | P = 0.638 |
| Indications for removal of infected bone |
41/49 4 (4–5) |
22/29 4.5 (4–5) |
19/20 4 (4–5) | P = 0.954 |
| Indications for surgical debridement |
42/49 5 (4–5) |
22/29 5 (4–5) |
20/20 4 (4–5) | P = 0.083 |
| Extent of surgical debridement |
42/49 4 (4–5) |
22/29 5 (4–5) |
20/20 4 (4–5) | P = 0.190 |
| Variation in: 1 | ||||
| Wound dressing choice |
41/49 4 (3–5) |
21/29 4 (3.5–5) |
20/20 4 (3–4) | p = 0.122 |
| Antibiotic choice |
40/49 3 (2–4) |
21/29 3 (2–3.5) |
19/20 3 (2–4) | p = 0.830 |
| Antibiotic duration |
40/49 3 (2–3.75) |
21/29 3 (3–4) |
19/20 3 (2–4) | P = 0.320 |
| Indications for removal of infected bone |
38/49 3 (3–4) |
19/29 3 (2–3) |
19/20 3 (2–4) | P = 0.525 |
| Indications for surgical debridement |
38/49 3 (2–4) |
20/29 3 (2–4) |
18/20 3 (2–4) | P = 0.806 |
| Extent of surgical debridement |
41/49 3 (2–4) |
21/29 3 (2–4) |
20/20 3 (2–4) | P = 0.764 |
| Need for further randomised clinical trials exploring: 1 | ||||
| Wound dressing choice |
31/49 4 (3–4) |
16/29 4 (3–5) |
15/20 3 (3–4) | p = 0.216 |
| Antibiotic choice |
33/49 3 (2–4) |
18/29 3 (2–4) |
15/20 3 (2–4) | p = 0.789 |
| Antibiotic duration |
35/49 4 (3–4) |
18/29 4 (3–4) |
17/20 4 (2.5–4) | p = 0.732 |
| Indications for removal of infected bone |
34/49 4 (3–5) |
17/29 4 (3–5) |
17/20 4 (2.5–5) | p = 0.610 |
| Indications for surgical debridement |
32/49 4 (2–5) |
14/29 4 (2–4.25) |
18/20 4 (2.75–5) | p = 0.639 |
| Extent of surgical debridement |
34/49 4 (2.75–4.25) |
16/29 4 (3–4.75) |
18/20 4 (2–4.25) | p = 0.506 |