Explainable machine learning model for predicting minor amputation in diabetic foot ulcers
Zhong-Jing Yang, Jun-Yan Zhao, Shao-Cong Hu, Yi Chen, Yun-Fei Kang, Juan Li, Liang-Chen Wang, Hong-Mei Chen, Zu-Yuan Zhang, Cai-Zhe Yang, Di Zhu
Zhong-Jing Yang, Shao-Cong Hu, Yi Chen, Yun-Fei Kang, Juan Li, Liang-Chen Wang, Hong-Mei Chen, Zu-Yuan Zhang, Cai-Zhe Yang, Di Zhu, Department of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Beijing 100142, China
Jun-Yan Zhao, Department of Endocrinology, Jilin Hospital, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Changchun 130123, Jilin Province, China
Co-first authors: Zhong-Jing Yang and Jun-Yan Zhao.
Co-corresponding authors: Cai-Zhe Yang and Di Zhu.
Author contributions: Yang ZJ and Zhao JY had primary responsibility for writing the original draft and developing the methodology as co-first authors; Hu SC, Li J, Chen HM, and Zhang ZY conducted the formal analysis; Chen Y and Kang YF were involved in reviewing the writing; Wang LC was responsible for supervision and overall oversight of the study; Yang CZ and Zhu D defined the research theme and revised the manuscript critically as co-corresponding authors; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
AI contribution statement: The authors take full responsibility and accountability for all content of this manuscript. No AI tools were used in any stage of manuscript drafting, data analysis, result interpretation, or conclusion formulation. All text, analyses and scientific conclusions were independently completed, reviewed, validated and approved by all authors.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82470389; Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research, No. 2024-4-5122; and Young Talent Program of Air Force Medical Center, No. 22BJQN005.
Institutional review board statement: Data collection for this study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Air Force Medical Center (No. 2024-34-PJ01).
Informed consent statement: This retrospective study was approved by the Ethics Committee, and the requirement for written informed consent was waived due to the retrospective nature.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement – checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement – checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.
Corresponding author: Di Zhu, MD, Chief Physician, Department of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, No. 28 Fucheng Road, Beijing 100142, China.
judy3481@163.com
Received: June 29, 2026
Revised: August 3, 2026
Accepted: October 20, 2026
Published online: November 15, 2026
Processing time: 132 Days and 3.2 Hours
