Diabetic Foot Infections Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Jan 16, 2020
  • Author: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD; Chief Editor: Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Skeletal and soft-tissue infections of the foot are not limited to individuals with diabetes; therefore, other conditions may need to be considered in the differential diagnosis, depending on the infection and structures affected. A careful history often helps.

In cellulitis, differential diagnosis includes leukoclastic angitis, diabetic dermopathy, chronic venostatic change, and superficial thrombophlebitis.

Differential diagnosis in deep skin and soft-tissue infections includes gas gangrene, synergistic gangrene, Vibrio vulnificus infection, and Aeromonas hydrophilia infection.

Differentials in acute osteomyelitis include sickle cell crisis, Lyme arthritis, sarcoid arthritis, blunt bone trauma, and bone tumor.

In chronic osteomyelitis, differential diagnosis includes squamous cell carcinoma, bone tumor, and neuropathic joint.

Differential Diagnoses