Publication Name	World Journal of Diabetes
Manuscript ID	124921
DOI	10.4239/wjd.124921
Country	China

Category	Endocrinology & Metabolism
Manuscript Type	Retrospective Cohort Study
Article Title	Explainable machine learning model for predicting minor amputation in diabetic foot ulcers
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	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 and Di Zhu
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 82470389 Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research No. 2024-4-5122 Young Talent Program of Air Force Medical Center No. 22BJQN005
Corresponding Author	Di Zhu, Chief Physician, MD, Department of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, No. 28 Fucheng Road, Beijing 100142, China. judy3481@163.com
Key Words	Diabetic foot ulcers; Minor amputation; Clinical prediction model; Machine learning; C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte index; SHapley Additive exPlanations
Core Tip	This study developed and validated an explainable machine learning model to predict minor amputation within 3 months of admission in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Among six compared algorithms, the random forest model performed best (validation area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.766), identifying fibrinogen, pedal vessel calcification, albumin, and the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte index as independent predictors. SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis provided visual, patient-level interpretation of feature contributions. The model relies exclusively on routinely available laboratory and radiographic variables, offering a practical and objective tool for early risk stratification that may help clinicians identify high-risk diabetic foot ulcers patients and initiate timely targeted interventions.
Citation	Yang ZJ, Zhao JY, Hu SC, Chen Y, Kang YF, Li J, Wang LC, Chen HM, Zhang ZY, Yang CZ, Zhu D. Explainable machine learning model for predicting minor amputation in diabetic foot ulcers. World J Diabetes 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.124921
PDF	124921-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-06-29 01:35
Peer-Review Started	2026-07-07 10:03
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-07-20 08:53
Revised	2026-08-03 05:49
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-08-31 09:36
Second Decision by Editor	2026-10-05 08:18
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief	2026-10-09 09:51
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-10-20 09:42
Articles in Press	2026-10-20 09:42
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-9358 (online)
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