APMA News - March/April 2022 - 21

An Introduction to the
American Limb
Preservation Society (ALPS)
Multidisciplinary care is an active collaboration
between specialties to develop and deliver
optimal care plans for patients. This collaborative
approach is especially essential in limb preservation.
Unnecessary amputations remain a substantial
challenge, and a structured, highly coordinated
team is required to tackle this foe. Fortunately,
investigational and clinical efforts to promote an
interprofessional approach to limb preservation are
accelerating globally1-6
.
Podiatrists and vascular surgeons are often
viewed as the first line of treatment for patients
with lower extremity tissue loss. Engaging
primary care physicians, diabetes educators,
nutritionists, endocrinologists, infectious disease
specialists, interventional radiologists/cardiologists,
nurses, pathologists, pedorthists, physical
therapists, and plastic surgeons can further
enhance patient outcomes.
Limb preservation efforts of each respective
profession in the US and abroad have previously
remained largely isolated and lacked a dedicated
interprofessional entity dedicated to pooling
resources and efforts. In October of 2020,
the American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS,
limbpreservationsociety.org), was founded to
advance the science and clinical care of limb
preservation and to develop the next generation of
clinicians, scientists, and clinician scientists in the
field. Its ambitious collective goal is to eliminate
preventable amputations over the next generation.
ALPS remains committed to seeking the broadest
possible coalition in the fight for the preservation
of limbs and lives.
In the short time since its inception, ALPS has
made significant progress in bringing together a
variety of organizations with a vested interest in
limb preservation. These7
parties are now actively
collaborating for the benefit of those facing the
potential tragedy of a major limb amputation.
ALPS is extremely fortunate to count APMA among
the organizations with which it has established
a strategic partnership. In recognition of the
importance of this collaboration, ALPS will be
offering a $50 discount on annual membership
dues to APMA members now through the end of
May (the discounted dues rate is $99). To receive
the discount, enter promo code " APMA " when
registering at limbpreservationsociety.org/
become-a-member
References
1. Rubio JA, Aragon-Sanchez J, Jimenez S, et al.
Reducing major lower extremity amputations
after the introduction of a multidisciplinary team
for the diabetic foot. Int J Low Extrem Wounds.
2014;13(1):22-26.
2. Chamberlain-Salaun J, Mills J, Usher K.
Terminology used to describe health care
teams: an integrative review of the literature. J
Multidiscip Healthc. 2013; 6:65-74.
3. Blanchette V, Brousseau-Foley M, Cloutier L.
Effect of contact with podiatry in a team approach
context on diabetic foot ulcer and lower
extremity amputation: systematic review and
meta-analysis. J Foot Ankle Res. 2020;13(1):15.
4. Wrobel JS, Robbins JM, Charns MP, Bonacker
KM, Reiber GE, Pogach L. Diabetes-related foot
care at 10 Veterans Affairs medical centers:
must do's associated with successful microsystems.
Joint Commission journal on quality and
patient safety / Joint Commission Resources.
2006;32(4):206-213.
5. Wang C, Mai L, Yang C, et al. Reducing major
lower extremity amputations after the introduction
of a multidisciplinary team in patient
with diabetes foot ulcer. BMC Endocr Disord.
2016;16(1):38.
6. Riaz M, Miyan Z, Waris N, et al. Impact of multidisciplinary
foot care team on outcome of
diabetic foot ulcer in term of lower extremity
amputation at a tertiary care unit in Karachi,
Pakistan. Int Wound J. 2019;16(3):768-772.
7. Crews RT, Lepow BD, Mills JL Sr, et al. A limb
is a peninsula- and no clinician is an island:
Introducing the American Limb Preservation
Society (ALPS). Foot & Ankle Surgery:
Techniques, Reports & Cases. 2021;1(1):100005.
APMA.ORG
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