Protecting Your Health

Keeping our Patients on Their Feet

Despite advances in medical care, many patients gradually lose circulation in their lower extremities and become at risk for amputation. The Podiatry Services at New York Community Hospital function within a “limb salvage team” that includes multiple specialties all dedicated to preserving both tissue and function of affected limbs.

Many medical conditions may place patients at risk for amputation, such as Diabetes or atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. Smoking is also highly deleterious to peripheral circulation and can further complicate efforts to avoid amputation.

The need for amputation of some part of the lower extremity is actually fairly common, and there are over a million patients now living in the U. S. with some level of amputation. Globally, it is estimated that a lower extremity amputation is required every 30 seconds.

The goal of this hospital’s multifaceted limb salvage program is to intervene early with nonsurgical measures in order to keep patients on their feet, able to perform the activities of daily living with minimal disability.

Because of the experience and expertise developed by our podiatry staff, vascular surgeons, diabetes specialists and wound management experts, some of the key components of the limb salvage program include intensive infection control and wound management, as well as revascularization procedures when necessary.

Even then, every effort is made to be as minimally-invasive as possible. Even the loss of a toe is an emotionally stressful experience, but it is preferable to a higher level amputation that requires a prosthesis and extensive rehabilitation.

The limb salvage team has advanced treatment modalities such as grafting with new skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen and wound drainage procedures that contribute to healing and preservation of function.

Persistent pain and/or a lower extremity wound should be treated early and vigorously, especially in diabetic patients. Podiatrists are well trained to recognize the early signs of lower extremity problems and to act quickly to provide whatever is necessary from properly fitted footwear to the aggressive management of tissue damage or infection.

It is very important for diabetics to ensure that their blood sugar is well controlled and that their feet are carefully inspected every day for early signs of problems that require professional attention.

New York Community Hospital has a dedicated staff of board-certified podiatrists, as well as an outstanding training program in Podiatry, and it is well known for its success rate in managing patients at risk for amputation.

Lawrence A. Santi, DPM is board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is a Fellow in the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. He has been on staff at New York Community Hospital since 1987. He serves as the Chief of Podiatry at New York Community Hospital as well as the Director of the Podiatric Residency Program. He is also a on the Medical Board of NY Community Hospital and on the Board of Trustees of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. Santi maintains his practice with his son Joseph at 240 E. 5^th Street Brooklyn and at 2523 Kings Hwy, Brooklyn, known as Santi Podiatry Group.