Pattern of Diabetic Foot Complications and Amputation Outcomes at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State

Diabetic foot disease is a leading cause of lower limb amputation in Nigeria, with significant implications for quality of life, healthcare costs, and mortality. In South South states such as Cross River, limited podiatric care and delayed presentation contribute to high amputation rates. This study examines the pattern of diabetic foot complications, amputation levels, and short-term postoperative outcomes among patients managed at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. A retrospective cross-sectional design is applied to records of diabetic patients admitted with foot complications between 2019 and 2023. Data include duration of diabetes, glycaemic control at admission, Wagner classification of ulcers, surgical intervention performed, wound culture results, length of hospital stay, and 30-day mortality. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests are computed using SPSS. Evidence from tertiary centres in southern Nigeria indicates that Wagner grade 4 and 5 lesions account for over 60 percent of diabetic foot admissions, with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as dominant isolates. The Wagner Classification System provides the clinical grading framework. Findings will support the hospital's endocrinology and surgical teams in developing a multidisciplinary diabetic foot clinic and patient education protocols to reduce preventable amputations. Keywords: diabetic foot, amputation, Wagner classification, Calabar, South South Nigeria.