Analysis of the Relationship Between Lower leg Muscle Mass and Preservation of Lower Extremity in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer

This study aimed to determine how the muscle mass of the lower leg affects the preservation of the lower extremities in patients with diabetic foot ulcer. This study analyzed patients with diabetic foot ulcer between January 2014 and June 2018 with a follow-up of at least 2 years. Of these 181 patients whose ulcer is located distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint, which was categorized as grade <= 2 by the Wagner classification were classified into 4 grades: grade 0 (treated without amputation), grade 1 (amputation distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint), grade 2 (Ray, transmetatarsal, Lisfranc, and Chopart amputation), and grade 3 (Syme, below-knee, and above-knee amputation) according to the final amputation degree. The muscles of the lower leg were classified into 4 compartments: anterior, lateral, deep posterior, and superficial posterior. The cross-sectional area and attenuation to estimate the muscle volume and density were measured at the axial image of computed tomography (CT) angiography. No significant differences were observed in the sex ratio and mean age among the grades (P = .966 and .962). The cross-sectional area of the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments demonstrated no significant differences, but that of the superficial posterior compartment exhibited significant differences among the grades (P < .001). Moreover, the attenuation of the anterior, lateral, and deep posterior compartments showed no significant differences, but that of the posterior compartment showed significant differences among the grades (P = .003). The muscle mass of the superficial posterior compartment of the lower leg could be a good indicator of the preservation of the lower extremity in patients with diabetic foot ulcer. Therefore, a strengthening exercise for the triceps surae and plantaris muscles in the early stage could help preserve as much of the lower extremities as possible.