These MS/DNB General Surgery diabetic foot surgery thesis topics cover ulcer assessment, wound infection and osteomyelitis, neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease, debridement, amputation, off-loading, reconstruction and limb salvage. The diabetic foot surgical research topics include descriptive and analytical cross-sectional studies, diagnostic comparisons and operative case-series analyses that can be completed during one postgraduate thesis period using patients, wound records, laboratory investigations, Doppler findings and procedures already available in the surgical unit. A suitable diabetic foot surgery protocol should define the wound, limb, patient and index-admission outcomes before preparing the diabetic foot surgery synopsis.
Last reviewed and updated: · all 300 topics checked for 2026–2027 admissions
Our MS General Surgery Thesis Guidance covers operative outcome definitions (Clavien–Dindo grading, CDC surgical site infection criteria), follow-up schedules, and institutional review board (IRB) layout guides.
Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Clinical Severity Assessment
Diabetic foot ulcers in adults presenting to a tertiary care surgical unit: clinical, anatomical and severity profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Neuropathic and ischaemic diabetic foot ulcers: differences in clinical characteristics and wound morphology in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Plantar and non-plantar diabetic foot ulcers: differences in ulcer size, depth and associated deformity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot diabetic ulcers: differences in wound severity and associated vascular findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Duration of diabetes mellitus and severity of diabetic foot ulcer at presentation: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Glycated haemoglobin level and Wagner grade of diabetic foot ulcer: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Random blood glucose level and clinical severity of diabetic foot infection at admission: a cross-sectional study.
Body mass index and severity of diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Smoking exposure and severity of diabetic foot disease in adults: a cross-sectional analytical study.
Tobacco use and peripheral ischaemic changes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Hypertension and severity of diabetic foot ulceration: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Chronic kidney disease and clinical severity of diabetic foot lesions: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Anaemia and diabetic foot ulcer severity at presentation: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Serum albumin and wound severity in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional analytical study.
Leucocytosis and clinical grade of diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and severity of diabetic foot infection: a cross-sectional study.
C-reactive protein level and depth of diabetic foot ulcer: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and severity of diabetic foot infection: a cross-sectional study.
Ulcer surface area and depth in relation to clinical infection severity: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Single and multiple diabetic foot ulcers: differences in duration, depth and anatomical distribution in a comparative cross-sectional study.
First-episode and recurrent diabetic foot ulceration: differences in deformity, neuropathy and vascular findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot ulcers in younger and older adults: differences in clinical severity and comorbidities in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Male and female patients with diabetic foot ulcers: differences in ulcer location and severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Rural and urban patients with diabetic foot ulcers: differences in severity at first surgical presentation in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Barefoot walking practices and plantar diabetic foot ulceration: an observational cross-sectional study.
Footwear pattern and anatomical location of diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional study.
Callosity and plantar ulcer formation in patients with diabetes mellitus: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Foot deformity and recurrent pressure-point ulceration in diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study.
Hammer toe, claw toe and hallux deformity in relation to diabetic foot ulcer location: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Charcot foot deformity and ulcer pattern in diabetic patients: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Ulcer edge characteristics and depth of tissue involvement in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Necrotic and non-necrotic diabetic foot ulcers: differences in clinical and laboratory findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Wet and dry gangrenous diabetic foot lesions: differences in vascular and infective characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot ulcer with and without surrounding cellulitis: differences in laboratory and wound findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Local warmth, erythema and oedema in relation to diabetic foot infection severity: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Foul-smelling discharge and microbiological profile of diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional study.
Probe-to-bone test and deep tissue involvement in diabetic foot ulcers: a diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Ulcer depth and presence of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Wagner classification and University of Texas classification in diabetic foot ulcers: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Perfusion, extent, depth, infection and sensation score and Wagner grade in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Site, ischaemia, neuropathy, bacterial infection and depth classification in diabetic foot ulcers: clinical utility in a cross-sectional study.
Meggitt-Wagner grade and requirement for operative debridement during index admission: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Ulcer area and duration of symptoms before hospital presentation: a cross-sectional study.
Delay in seeking surgical care and severity of diabetic foot disease at admission: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Previous minor amputation and current diabetic foot ulcer severity: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Bilateral and unilateral diabetic foot disease: differences in neuropathy, ischaemia and deformity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot ulcers with and without pedal oedema: differences in infection and vascular status in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Plantar callus thickness and ulcer severity in diabetic neuropathic feet: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Foot temperature asymmetry and diabetic foot inflammation at presentation: a cross-sectional study.
Loss of protective sensation and severity of diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Monofilament testing and ulcer location in patients with diabetic neuropathy: a cross-sectional study.
Vibration perception loss and severity of diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Achilles tendon tightness and forefoot ulceration in diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study.
Limited joint mobility and plantar ulceration in adults with diabetes mellitus: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Nail deformities and adjacent toe ulceration in diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study.
Interdigital fungal infection and diabetic foot ulceration: an observational cross-sectional study.
Clinical predictors of severe diabetic foot ulceration at first surgical assessment: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical factors associated with gangrene in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical, metabolic and wound variables associated with advanced diabetic foot severity: a multivariable cross-sectional study.
Spectrum of diabetic foot ulcers presenting to a tertiary care general surgery department in India: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Diabetic Foot Infection, Microbiology and Osteomyelitis
Diabetic foot infection in adults: clinical, laboratory and microbiological profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Mild, moderate and severe diabetic foot infections: differences in microbial spectrum and inflammatory markers in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Monomicrobial and polymicrobial diabetic foot infections: differences in ulcer depth and clinical severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Aerobic bacterial isolates from diabetic foot wounds: antimicrobial susceptibility profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Gram-positive and gram-negative organisms in diabetic foot infection: differences in wound severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Staphylococcal and gram-negative diabetic foot infections: comparative clinical characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in diabetic foot infection: prevalence and associated clinical factors in a cross-sectional study.
Pseudomonas infection in diabetic foot ulcers and associated wound characteristics: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species in diabetic foot infection: clinical and antimicrobial profile in a cross-sectional study.
Anaerobic and aerobic bacterial infection in necrotic diabetic foot wounds: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Superficial swab and deep tissue culture in diabetic foot infection: a comparative diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Tissue culture and pus culture concordance in diabetic foot wounds: a cross-sectional study.
Clinical wound appearance and microbiological profile in diabetic foot infection: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Foul odour and anaerobic bacterial growth in diabetic foot ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Ulcer depth and polymicrobial infection in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Duration of ulcer and number of bacterial isolates in diabetic foot infection: a cross-sectional study.
Previous antibiotic exposure and culture positivity in diabetic foot wounds: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Recurrent and first-episode diabetic foot infections: differences in antimicrobial resistance patterns in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Hospital-acquired and community-acquired diabetic foot infections: differences in microbial spectrum in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Multidrug-resistant organisms in diabetic foot infection: prevalence and associated clinical characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Glycaemic control and multidrug-resistant bacterial infection in diabetic foot ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Chronic kidney disease and antimicrobial resistance in diabetic foot infection: a cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot infection in smokers and non-smokers: differences in microbial profile in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Deep and superficial diabetic foot infections: differences in microbiological spectrum in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Cellulitis with and without abscess formation in diabetic foot infection: differences in microbial and inflammatory characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot abscess in adults: clinical, laboratory and imaging profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Plantar space and dorsal foot abscesses in diabetes mellitus: differences in clinical and imaging findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Gas-forming diabetic foot infections: clinical, radiological and microbiological characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Soft-tissue gas on radiography and severity of diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Necrotising diabetic foot infection at presentation: clinical, laboratory and operative profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Necrotising and non-necrotising diabetic foot infections: differences in laboratory and imaging characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot osteomyelitis: clinical, laboratory and radiological profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Forefoot and hindfoot osteomyelitis in diabetic patients: differences in ulcer and imaging characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Probe-to-bone test for diagnosing diabetic foot osteomyelitis: a diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging in suspected diabetic foot osteomyelitis: a comparative diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and radiological osteomyelitis in diabetic foot ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
C-reactive protein and magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed osteomyelitis in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Ulcer size and risk of underlying osteomyelitis in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Ulcer duration and presence of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Exposed bone and radiological osteomyelitis in diabetic foot ulcers: a diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Bone culture and deep tissue culture in diabetic foot osteomyelitis: a comparative microbiological cross-sectional study.
Histopathology and microbiology of bone specimens in diabetic foot osteomyelitis: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Osteomyelitis with and without surrounding abscess: differences in clinical and imaging findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Toe and metatarsal osteomyelitis: differences in wound morphology and operative findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Calcaneal osteomyelitis in diabetic foot disease: clinical and imaging characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Radiographic bone destruction and ulcer severity in diabetic foot osteomyelitis: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Magnetic resonance imaging extent of osteomyelitis and operative bone involvement: a cross-sectional concordance study.
Septic arthritis of foot joints in diabetic patients: clinical and imaging profile in a cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot infection with and without systemic inflammatory response: differences in microbiological and laboratory characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Bacteraemia in severe diabetic foot infection and associated wound characteristics: a cross-sectional study.
Leucocytosis, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein in severe diabetic foot infection: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Serum procalcitonin and clinical severity of diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Culture-negative and culture-positive diabetic foot infections: differences in clinical severity and prior antibiotic exposure in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Fungal isolates in chronic diabetic foot ulcers: prevalence and associated clinical factors in a cross-sectional study.
Mixed bacterial and fungal diabetic foot infection: clinical characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Biofilm-forming bacterial isolates in chronic diabetic foot wounds: prevalence and clinical correlates in a cross-sectional study.
Clinical predictors of polymicrobial diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical and laboratory predictors of diabetic foot osteomyelitis: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Microbiological factors associated with extensive tissue destruction in diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Spectrum of infective and osteomyelitic diabetic foot pathologies managed in a tertiary care surgical unit: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Peripheral Neuropathy, Peripheral Arterial Disease and Vascular Assessment
Peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: clinical and Doppler ultrasonographic profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Ischaemic and non-ischaemic diabetic foot ulcers: differences in wound characteristics and limb perfusion in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Palpable and non-palpable pedal pulses in diabetic foot patients: differences in Doppler arterial findings in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Ankle-brachial index and severity of diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Ankle-brachial index and Wagner grade of diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Toe-brachial index and diabetic foot ulcer severity: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Ankle-brachial index and Doppler waveform abnormalities in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Monophasic and multiphasic pedal arterial waveforms: differences in ulcer severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial artery flow abnormalities in diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional Doppler study.
Distal and proximal peripheral arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: comparative ulcer characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Multilevel and single-level arterial disease in diabetic foot ulceration: differences in wound severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Tibial artery disease and forefoot gangrene in diabetic patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Pedal artery disease and toe ulceration in diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.
Femoral-popliteal and infrapopliteal arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: differences in ulcer distribution in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Calcified non-compressible arteries and ankle-brachial index interpretation in diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.
Arterial calcification on plain radiography and peripheral arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Smoking and severity of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Duration of diabetes and extent of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: a cross-sectional study.
Glycated haemoglobin and severity of lower-limb arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Chronic kidney disease and peripheral arterial disease in diabetic foot ulceration: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Anaemia and limb ischaemia in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Peripheral arterial disease in younger and older diabetic foot patients: differences in anatomical distribution in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Rest pain and Doppler-confirmed peripheral arterial disease in diabetic patients: a diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Claudication and lower-limb arterial abnormalities in diabetic foot patients: a cross-sectional study.
Ischaemic gangrene and ankle-brachial index in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Wet and dry gangrene in relation to peripheral arterial disease severity: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Skin temperature and arterial perfusion in diabetic feet: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Capillary refill time and Doppler-confirmed ischaemia in diabetic foot disease: a diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Clinical pulse examination and Doppler ultrasonography in peripheral arterial assessment of diabetic foot patients: a comparative diagnostic cross-sectional study.
Ankle-brachial index and computed tomography angiography findings in selected diabetic foot patients: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: clinical profile and severity in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Loss of protective sensation and ulcer location in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Monofilament testing and vibration perception in diabetic neuropathy: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Neuropathic and neuroischaemic diabetic foot ulcers: differences in wound morphology in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Peripheral neuropathy severity and plantar ulceration in diabetic patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Sensory loss and callus formation in diabetic feet: a cross-sectional study.
Motor neuropathy and foot deformity in patients with diabetic ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Autonomic neuropathy and dry fissured skin in diabetic foot patients: a cross-sectional study.
Charcot neuroarthropathy in diabetic patients: clinical and radiological profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Charcot foot with and without ulceration: differences in deformity and neuropathy severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Midfoot collapse and plantar ulceration in Charcot neuroarthropathy: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Rocker-bottom deformity and ulcer distribution in diabetic Charcot foot: a cross-sectional study.
Neuropathic foot deformity and pressure-point ulceration: a cross-sectional analytical study.
Toe deformities and recurrent ulceration in diabetic neuropathy: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Peripheral neuropathy in diabetic foot patients with and without peripheral arterial disease: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Neuropathy severity and delay in recognition of diabetic foot ulceration: an observational cross-sectional study.
Painful and painless diabetic foot ulcers: differences in neuropathy and ischaemia in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Clinical predictors of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical predictors of severe peripheral neuropathy in diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Combined neuropathy and ischaemia as determinants of advanced diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Peripheral arterial disease with and without infection in diabetic foot ulcers: differences in clinical severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Doppler vascular abnormalities and tissue necrosis in diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Arterial disease severity and requirement for minor or major amputation during index admission: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Ulcer location and regional arterial disease in diabetic foot patients: a cross-sectional study.
Toe gangrene and pedal arterial flow patterns in diabetes mellitus: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Heel ulcers and posterior tibial artery abnormalities in diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study.
Peripheral arterial calcification and gangrene pattern in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical, neurological and Doppler variables associated with neuroischaemic diabetic foot ulceration: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Spectrum of neuropathic and vascular abnormalities in patients with diabetic foot disease: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Combined clinical and Doppler assessment of peripheral neuropathy and arterial disease in diabetic foot surgical patients: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.
Debridement, Amputation and Operative Decision-Making
Surgical debridement in diabetic foot infection: wound characteristics and intraoperative findings in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Single and multiple debridement procedures during index admission: differences in baseline wound severity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Superficial and extensive surgical debridement in diabetic foot disease: differences in preoperative ulcer characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Necrotic tissue burden and extent of debridement in diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Operative findings in neuropathic and ischaemic diabetic foot ulcers: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Plantar and dorsal diabetic foot infections: differences in surgical debridement requirements in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Deep plantar space infection and operative findings in diabetic foot disease: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Tendon sheath involvement in diabetic foot infection: clinical and operative characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Fascial involvement in diabetic foot infection and extent of surgical debridement: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Necrotising diabetic foot infection and intraoperative tissue involvement: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Surgical debridement in diabetic foot infection with and without osteomyelitis: differences in operative characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Bone exposure and requirement for osseous debridement in diabetic foot ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Toe disarticulation for diabetic foot gangrene: clinical and operative profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Ray amputation and toe amputation cases: differences in wound and vascular characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Forefoot and hindfoot amputations in diabetic foot disease: differences in indication and tissue involvement in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Minor and major amputations in diabetic foot patients: differences in baseline clinical, infective and vascular characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Below-knee and above-knee amputation cases in diabetic foot disease: differences in arterial and infective factors in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Dry and wet gangrene as indications for amputation: differences in operative level in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Toe gangrene and selection of minor amputation level: an observational cross-sectional study.
Forefoot gangrene and choice of transmetatarsal versus more proximal amputation: a cross-sectional study.
Heel gangrene and operative treatment selection in diabetic foot disease: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Wagner grade and level of amputation performed during index admission: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Peripheral arterial disease severity and level of amputation in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Infection severity and level of amputation in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Osteomyelitis and selection of minor amputation level: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Serum albumin and extent of surgical intervention in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Haemoglobin level and requirement for major amputation in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Glycated haemoglobin and extent of operative treatment in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Renal dysfunction and major amputation in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Smoking and level of amputation in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Peripheral neuropathy and selection of operative procedure in diabetic foot ulceration: an observational cross-sectional study.
Charcot deformity and operative management of diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional study.
Deep abscess and requirement for extensive debridement in diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Gas-forming infection and emergency operative intervention in diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Clinical and laboratory factors associated with emergency surgery in diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Surgical treatment within the index admission in mild, moderate and severe diabetic foot disease: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Operative findings in diabetic foot infection with normal and elevated inflammatory markers: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Intraoperative tissue viability and preoperative clinical perfusion findings in diabetic foot surgery: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Operative tissue necrosis and Doppler vascular abnormalities in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Extent of surgical debridement and wound size at presentation: a cross-sectional study.
Debridement alone and debridement with minor amputation: differences in baseline wound characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Minor amputation and major amputation groups: differences in infection, ischaemia and neuropathy in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Clinical predictors of minor amputation in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical predictors of major amputation in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Laboratory predictors of major amputation in diabetic foot infection: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Vascular predictors of major limb loss in diabetic foot patients: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Combined wound severity and vascular findings as determinants of amputation level: a cross-sectional analytical study.
Operative decision-making in diabetic foot gangrene based on infection and perfusion status: an observational cross-sectional study.
Intraoperative cultures and preoperative wound cultures in diabetic foot surgery: a cross-sectional concordance study.
Gross operative tissue characteristics and histopathological findings in diabetic foot debridement specimens: a cross-sectional correlation study.
Histopathological evidence of osteomyelitis and operative bone appearance in diabetic foot surgery: a cross-sectional study.
Marginal and extensive necrosis in diabetic foot disease: differences in operative procedure selection in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Surgical debridement under regional and general anaesthesia: differences in baseline wound complexity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Emergency and elective diabetic foot surgeries: differences in infection severity and vascular status in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Index-admission operative workload for diabetic foot disease in a tertiary care general surgery unit: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Immediate operative complications during diabetic foot debridement and amputation and associated wound characteristics: a cross-sectional study.
Intraoperative bleeding and peripheral perfusion status in diabetic foot amputation: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical and operative variables associated with selection of amputation level in diabetic foot gangrene: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Spectrum of amputations performed for diabetic foot disease during a single hospital admission: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Clinical, microbiological, vascular and operative determinants of surgical intervention in diabetic foot disease: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.
Wound Bed Preparation, Reconstruction and Limb-Salvage Techniques
Wound-bed characteristics after debridement of diabetic foot ulcers: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Healthy granulation and persistent slough after diabetic foot debridement: differences in clinical and microbiological characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Wound size and suitability for skin grafting in diabetic foot ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Split-thickness skin grafting for diabetic foot wounds: recipient-bed and operative characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot wounds selected for skin grafting and secondary healing: differences in wound morphology in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Plantar and dorsal diabetic foot wounds undergoing skin grafting: differences in recipient-bed characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Skin grafting over granulation tissue after diabetic foot debridement: operative and wound characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Split-thickness skin grafting in neuropathic and neuroischaemic diabetic foot wounds: differences in baseline wound characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot wounds selected for local flap and skin graft reconstruction: differences in defect depth and tissue exposure in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Local flap reconstruction for diabetic foot defects: anatomical indications and operative characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Toe and forefoot defects reconstructed with local tissue techniques: operative spectrum in a cross-sectional study.
Exposed tendon and bone in diabetic foot wounds: reconstructive options selected at index surgery in an observational cross-sectional study.
Negative-pressure wound therapy in diabetic foot wounds: wound characteristics at initiation in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Negative-pressure and conventional dressing groups in diabetic foot wounds: differences in baseline wound complexity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Wound-bed granulation before skin grafting in patients treated with negative-pressure wound therapy: a cross-sectional study.
Large and small diabetic foot wounds selected for negative-pressure wound therapy: differences in infection and tissue loss in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Wound depth and choice of dressing technique in diabetic foot surgery: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Vacuum-assisted closure use after diabetic foot debridement and associated wound characteristics: an observational cross-sectional study.
Alginate, foam and conventional gauze dressings in diabetic foot wounds: differences in wound exudate and depth at selection in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Exudative and relatively dry diabetic foot wounds: differences in dressing selection in a cross-sectional observational study.
Off-loading requirements in plantar diabetic foot ulcers: clinical and anatomical characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Forefoot and heel ulcers: differences in off-loading strategy selected at index assessment in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Plantar pressure-point ulcers and associated foot deformities: a cross-sectional study.
Total-contact cast candidates and alternative off-loading candidates: differences in ulcer characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Off-loading footwear and conventional footwear users with diabetic foot ulceration: differences in ulcer location and callosity in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Debridement plus off-loading and debridement alone groups: differences in baseline plantar ulcer characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Achilles tendon tightness and need for forefoot off-loading in diabetic ulcers: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Callus debridement in neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers: wound and pressure-point characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Surgical correction of toe deformity in diabetic foot ulceration: anatomical indications in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Tendon balancing procedures considered in recurrent neuropathic ulcers: clinical and anatomical factors in a cross-sectional study.
Limb-salvage procedures in diabetic foot disease: clinical, vascular and operative profile in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Limb-salvage and primary major amputation groups: differences in baseline infection and perfusion characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Patients selected for vascular evaluation before limb-salvage surgery: clinical predictors in an analytical cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot ulcers with and without revascularisation indication: differences in Doppler and wound characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Open and endovascular revascularisation candidates with diabetic foot disease: differences in arterial anatomy in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Infrapopliteal arterial disease and limb-salvage feasibility in diabetic foot patients: a cross-sectional study.
Angiosome-related ulcer location and arterial disease pattern in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Toe pressure and wound severity in patients considered for limb-salvage procedures: a cross-sectional study.
Clinical factors influencing reconstruction rather than amputation in diabetic foot defects: an observational cross-sectional study.
Wound size, infection and perfusion as determinants of reconstructive strategy in diabetic foot surgery: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Post-debridement soft-tissue defects of the diabetic foot: anatomical spectrum and reconstruction selected during index admission in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Toe defects, transmetatarsal defects and heel defects: differences in reconstructive options in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Skin grafting after minor amputation and skin grafting after debridement: differences in wound-bed characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Primary closure and delayed reconstruction of diabetic foot surgical wounds: differences in wound characteristics in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Wound-edge viability and selection of primary closure after diabetic foot surgery: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Partial foot defects with and without exposed bone: differences in reconstructive strategy in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Heel defects in diabetic patients: clinical, vascular and reconstructive characteristics in a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Forefoot tissue loss and selection of graft, flap or amputation: an observational cross-sectional study.
Charcot foot ulcers requiring surgical reconstruction: anatomical and wound characteristics in a cross-sectional study.
Diabetic foot wounds with normal and impaired perfusion: differences in reconstructive options selected in a comparative cross-sectional study.
Nutritional status and suitability for reconstructive surgery in diabetic foot wounds: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Serum albumin and wound-bed quality before diabetic foot reconstruction: a cross-sectional study.
Anaemia and reconstructive procedure selection in diabetic foot disease: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Glycaemic status and wound-bed characteristics at the time of reconstructive surgery: a cross-sectional study.
Clinical and wound variables associated with selection for skin grafting in diabetic foot defects: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Clinical and vascular variables associated with selection for limb-salvage reconstruction: an analytical cross-sectional study.
Operative reconstruction methods used after diabetic foot debridement during index hospitalisation: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Comparative baseline profile of patients undergoing debridement alone, skin grafting, minor amputation and major amputation for diabetic foot disease: a cross-sectional study.
Spectrum of wound-bed preparation, off-loading and reconstructive techniques used in diabetic foot surgery at a tertiary care centre: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Clinical, metabolic, microbiological, vascular and operative spectrum of diabetic foot surgical pathologies managed in a tertiary care general surgery department in India: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Not the general surgery subspeciality you need? Diabetic foot surgery is one section of our full general surgery collection — the hub page lists every subspeciality, each with its own free topic list. Updated October 2026.
📌 Updated for 2026–2027 MS/DNB General Surgery Diabetic Foot Surgery admissions
The topic selection has been reviewed for routine surgical feasibility, interpretable severity classification and meaningful wound or operative endpoints.
Usually available: bedside monofilament examination, ulcer dimensions, infection grading, glucose and inflammatory markers, wound cultures, plain radiography and pedal arterial Doppler where indicated.
Not essential for every topic: magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography angiography, transcutaneous oxygen measurement, vascular intervention, advanced negative-pressure systems or long-term ulcer-healing follow-up.
Publication potential: strongest when infection severity, perfusion, bone involvement, sampling method and the rationale for the selected operation are clearly separated and consistently recorded.
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Introduction / Synopsis
Research Question
Aim of the Study
Primary Objective
Secondary Objectives
Materials and Methods
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Sample Size Calculation
Methodology
Statistical Analysis
Ethical Considerations
Review of Literature
References
Gantt Chart / Study Timeline
Patient Information Sheet
Consent Form
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Generate the full diabetic foot surgery protocol directly — objectives, methodology, sample size, statistics, timeline, references and annexures.
Alongside diabetic foot surgery protocols and synopses, support is also available for departmental presentations, journal club presentations, ethics committee presentations, and posters and oral presentations for medical conferences — for postgraduate residents, board trainees and research scholars across India and the GCC. Prepared by a practising doctor with long experience in medical publishing and thesis supervision.
The topics above work as research questions anywhere — what changes is the document the institution expects, and who approves it before data collection begins. The Gulf equivalent of an Indian synopsis is the diabetic foot surgery research proposal submitted to an institutional review board, and it ordinarily carries three sections an Indian synopsis does not: a Gantt chart, a budget and resources section, and a Declaration of Helsinki statement.
Board and residency programmes — country by country
Saudi Arabia — SCFHS and the Saudi Board. Residency and fellowship training under the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties includes a research project with a set timeline, and the diabetic foot surgery research proposal is the document prepared at the outset and cleared by the institutional review board before recruitment starts.
United Arab Emirates — DHA, DOH Abu Dhabi and MOHAP. Residents training in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates prepare a diabetic foot surgery research protocol for their programme and submit it for institutional review board approval before any data are collected.
Qatar — DHP (formerly QCHP) and Hamad Medical Corporation. A diabetic foot surgery IRB proposal is reviewed before recruitment, with the ethics section written to the institution's own template rather than a generic one.
Bahrain — NHRA. Trainees turning diabetic foot surgery research topics into a project need the proposal cleared by their institutional research and ethics committee before fieldwork begins.
Oman — OMSB. Residency programmes under the Oman Medical Specialty Board include a research component, and the diabetic foot surgery research proposal is the document assessed at the start of it.
Kuwait — KIMS. A diabetic foot surgery study protocol goes to the institutional committee for approval before the project begins.
Arab Board programmes across the region. The Arab Board carries its own research requirement irrespective of the host country, and the diabetic foot surgery proposal follows the same structure throughout.
Postgraduate degrees — Malaysia, the Gulf and beyond
Malaysia — MMed, the National Medical Research Register and MREC. A diabetic foot surgery dissertation proposal for a Master of Medicine programme carried out in a Ministry of Health facility must be registered on the NMRR and approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee before the study begins, and the guidance asks for submission four to six months ahead of data collection. Every investigator on the study team registers on the NMRR as well, so the methodology, ethics and team sections are written in far more detail than an Indian synopsis requires.
PhD and Master's candidates elsewhere. University programmes generally require a full diabetic foot surgery research proposal of roughly 6,000 to 10,000 words, with an extended literature review, a theoretical framework and a detailed methodology chapter.
PhD and MMed proposals are written individually by a medical doctor and revised until the supervisor accepts them. They are not produced by the automated protocol generator.
🔥 Trending research areas in Diabetic Foot Surgery for 2026–27
Integrated ulcer and limb-threat assessment: document wound extent, ischaemia and infection separately so that apparent severity differences are clinically interpretable.
Deep-tissue microbiology and suspected osteomyelitis: distinguish colonisation from infection and study sampling agreement without assuming that a superficial swab identifies bone pathogens.
Arterial calcification and distal perfusion: investigate discordance between ankle–brachial index, Doppler waveforms and toe pressures in selected patients with diabetes.
Procedure selection and limb preservation: record baseline perfusion, necrosis, infection and tissue exposure before comparing debridement, partial-foot procedures, grafts or major amputation.
Protocol and synopsis guidance
What must a Diabetic Foot Surgery research protocol contain?
Define the observation unit: specify whether enrolment is per patient, limb, ulcer, culture specimen or operation. One person may have several ulcers and more than one debridement; these observations cannot be treated as independent patients.
Fix assessment timing: document ulcer area and depth, Wagner or University of Texas grade, infection severity, neurological examination and perfusion at initial assessment, ideally before antibiotics, debridement or revascularisation alter the findings. Record prior antibiotic exposure for microbiological comparisons.
Prespecify verification: describe the use of clinical infection criteria, deep tissue versus superficial swabs, radiography, selected MRI and operative bone sampling where clinically undertaken. A positive swab is not proof of osteomyelitis, and MRI findings are not a universal histological reference standard.
Diabetic Foot Surgery synopsis versus Diabetic Foot Surgery protocol: what changes?
The synopsis states the focused question, study population, primary outcome, design and resources. The protocol supplies operational definitions: ulcer measurement method, wound and infection grading, monofilament sites, Doppler interpretation, microbiological sampling, criteria for suspected or confirmed osteomyelitis, indications for different procedures and the time point of each observation.
If the study compares amputation levels or limb-salvage selection, specify that the groups are chosen clinically rather than randomly and report baseline infection, tissue loss and perfusion. An index-admission cross-sectional comparison should not claim long-term wound healing or limb-salvage efficacy.
How should sample size and statistical analysis be planned?
For a descriptive prevalence study, select a precision-based sample using an appropriate expected proportion. For a comparison of severe versus non-severe infection, calculate the sample for the specified proportion or continuous outcome; predictive models need adequate outcome events, not merely a large total sample.
Use chi-square or Fisher exact tests for categorical comparisons, appropriate parametric or rank-based tests for continuous measures, and multivariable models only when the number of events permits. Assess diagnostic sensitivity and specificity only against a clearly defined reference standard applied across relevant test-positive and test-negative patients; otherwise report agreement or association. If both feet or multiple ulcers are included, account for within-patient clustering.
1. How do I choose a feasible Diabetic Foot Surgery thesis topic for 2026-2027?
Choose a question aligned with regular diabetic foot admissions and consistently available records. Ulcer grading, neuropathy examination, basic laboratory markers, wound microbiology and operative findings are usually more feasible than studies requiring routine advanced vascular imaging, rare procedures or prolonged follow-up.
2. Which study designs are suitable for diabetic foot surgery research?
Descriptive and comparative cross-sectional studies are suitable for presentation characteristics; diagnostic accuracy studies require a credible reference diagnosis; retrospective cohorts can examine defined index-admission outcomes when timing and follow-up are documented. A cross-sectional comparison of treatment groups does not establish the effectiveness of one treatment.
3. What should I finalise with my guide before registering a diabetic foot thesis?
Agree on one primary question, enrolment unit, eligibility criteria, wound and infection grading, perfusion tests, index assessment time, outcome definition, access to deep-tissue or bone samples, expected numbers and the method of handling repeated ulcers or procedures.
4. Can I complete a diabetic foot thesis without MRI or vascular intervention facilities?
Yes. Many questions use standard examination, monofilament testing, laboratory results, cultures, plain radiography, bedside wound measurements and Doppler when clinically available. Restrict the question to what is actually measured; do not classify untested patients as free of osteomyelitis or ischaemia.
5. What is the difference between a diabetic foot thesis synopsis and protocol?
The synopsis provides the research question, rationale, design, objectives and feasibility. The protocol defines each measurement, microbiological method, diagnostic verification, operative category, data collection timing, sample-size basis, consent pathway and statistical analysis.
6. What ethical safeguards are needed in diabetic foot research?
Obtain ethics committee approval and informed consent for prospective assessments; seek a justified consent waiver for appropriately anonymised retrospective records. Do not delay antibiotics, urgent drainage or revascularisation to obtain research measurements. Avoid research-only radiation, contrast exposure or blood sampling without a separately approved indication and specified volume. Obtain separate consent for identifiable wound photographs, protect images and records, and define a clinical referral pathway for incidental vascular or bone findings.
7. Why can Wagner grade or ankle-brachial index mislead a diabetic foot study?
Wagner grade reflects wound depth and gangrene but does not independently grade infection or limb perfusion. Ankle-brachial index can be falsely high when diabetes-related medial arterial calcification makes ankle vessels non-compressible. Record infection and perfusion separately and interpret Doppler waveforms or toe pressure when clinically available; do not use a normal or high ankle-brachial index alone to exclude ischaemia.
8. Can these diabetic foot topics support PhD, Saudi Board or Gulf residency research?
A PhD proposal generally requires a broader knowledge gap and more detailed design than an MD/MS/DNB synopsis. Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) and Saudi Board programmes, the Arab Board of Health Specializations, and research requirements in DHP, DHA, DOH or MOHAP-linked training pathways vary by programme. Confirm the current local research-project rules and adapt the protocol to the approved population, endpoints and supervision.
9. When should I register my diabetic foot surgery thesis topic?
Register after the guide confirms that the required patient numbers, ulcer grading, microbiology, perfusion data and operative records are accessible and that the ethics approval and data collection timeline fit the institutional registration schedule.
Found a topic that fits your department?
Generate its full protocol — objectives, methodology, sample size, statistics, timeline, references and annexures — in editable format.
