Preferred Offloading Modalities for Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Private Clinical Settings: A Survey of Australian Podiatrists

Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Neuropathy predisposes patients to diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) due to the loss of protective sensation and associated deformities. Management of foot ulcers are multifactorial, but pressure offloading can be considered as one of the most important aspects of management. According to IWGDF Guidelines, non-removable knee-high offloading devices are recommended as the 1st line of treatment for these ulcers. However, this is a very underutilised treatment modality. This study aimed to evaluate the practitioner preferred offloading modalities and reasons for their preference. Methods This project was approved by the university’s human research ethics committee. An online survey was distributed amongst Australian podiatrist via an industry related social media group. The survey collected simple demographical information, management strategies, preferred offloading modalities for the management of diabetic foot ulcers and reasons for their preferred method. Results Sixty-three podiatrists completed the survey with the majority practicing in private clinics. All practitioners treat diabetic foot ulcers regularly with most participants treating up to ten ulcer cases per week and 14% of participants treating more than 20 ulcers per week. Contrary to the IWGDF guidelines, standard therapeutic footwear was the most preferred method of management for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, with ease of use reported as the main reason for practitioners using this modality. Non-compliance to the use of non-removable knee-high offloading devices include perceived patient non-compliance and poor tolerance. Conclusion This study shows that practitioners’ offloading strategies do not adhere to the IWGDF guidelines. The reasons for not adhering to the guidelines seems to be a clinical practicality rather than evidence-based practice. Reasons for choosing a management strategy is multi-factorial (not just reducing plantar pressures). Further studies may be required to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic footwear in ulcer healing, taking into consideration other factors such as practitioner and patient preference, clinical practicality, and access to support. Based on the findings, this study provides suggestions on how to overcome the barriers that prevent podiatrist from adhering to the recommendations of the IWGDF when selecting offloading devices in general clinical practice.

The Performance and Interrater Agreement of Vibration Perception for the Diagnosis of Loss of Protective Sensation in People With Diabetes Mellitus

This study examined the performance of VibraTip for the diagnosis of loss of protective sensation (LOPS) and the interrater agreement of different neurological modalities performed by 3 health care professionals, a consultant diabetologist, a diabetes specialist nurse, and a podiatrist. Diagnosis of LOPS was based on 10-g Semmes Weinstein monofilament testing performed by a consultant diabetologist (reference method), while examination with a 128-Hz tuning form was also performed. The performance of VibraTip for the diagnosis of LOPS was examined using the receiver operating characteristic curves analysis. Interrater agreement was determined by weighted kappa (κ) statistics. Diagnosis of LOPS (%) was 37.5%. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that VibraTip examination versus 10-g monofilament, both performed by a consultant, could diagnose LOPS ( P < .001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of VibraTip versus 10-g monofilament, both performed by a consultant (value, 95% confidence interval), was 0.705 (0.591-0.803), 0.836 (0.758-0.897), 0.733 (0.642-0.808), and 0.816 (0.757-0.863), respectively. The interrater agreement among the health care professionals for 10-g monofilament, VibraTip, and 128-Hz tuning fork in neurological assessment was good with κ > 0.61. VibraTip can be used as a screening tool for the detection of LOPS. There was good overall agreement in the results of neurological examination using 10-g monofilament, 128-Hz tuning fork, and VibraTip among health care professionals.

Reappraising Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Focus on Mechanisms of Ulceration and Clinical Evaluation

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most devastating complications of diabetes as they have significant effects on patient morbidity and mortality. Since their first description in the 19th century, our understanding of DFU has evolved as we uncover the mechanisms that mediate ulceration. In this review, we aim to summarize the various pathways that lead to the development of DFU in order to reappraise physicians’ understanding of these complex wounds. Relevant pathways include the following: (1) neuropathy (motor neuropathy, loss of protective sensation, and autonomic sympathetic dysfunction), (2) vascular disease (arterial ischemia, venous insufficiency, and microvascular changes), and (3) metabolism (signaling and immunological effects of hyperglycemia). We also discuss the clinical presentation of DFU and an evidence-based evaluation to assist clinicians in early identification and classification of these wounds to inform management of DFU. Finally, we summarize complications of DFU caused by the various pathways mediating ulceration and briefly overview DFU management in order to educate physicians about the potential risks if left untreated. A better understanding of the synergistic pathways leading to DFU is essential for clinicians to improve DFU diagnosis, tailor intervention, and mitigate significant patient morbidity and mortality.

The Safety and Effectiveness of the Percutaneous Flexor Tenotomy in Healing Neuropathic Apical Toe Ulcers in the Outpatient Setting

Percutaneous flexor tenotomy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves cutting one or both flexor digitorum tendons underneath the toe. It is an alternative to open surgical procedures performed in an operating theatre. This project is a prospective case series investigating the utility, effectiveness, and participant satisfaction of the percutaneous flexor tenotomy when performed in the outpatient setting. People with diabetes, digital flexion deformity, and loss of protective sensation with an apical ulcer or preulcerative lesion presenting to the Austin Health Foot Ulcer Specialist Outpatient Clinic were enrolled in the study. The procedure was performed under sterile technique with an 18-gauge needle or fine scalpel blade. Participants were reviewed weekly until the incision and/ or ulcer healed. Participants were then followed up at 3 and 6 months. Time to ulcer healing, reulceration rate, frequency of complications, and patient satisfaction were recorded. There were 11 toe ulcers and 41 preulcerative lesions. A total of 76 tenotomy procedures were performed on the 23 participants across 35 episodes of care. The mean time to ulcer healing following tenotomy was 10.2 ± 4.3 days. There were no recurrences of ulceration. The infection rate per episode of care was 2.8%. There were 11 toes (14.5%) that sustained a transfer lesion post the index procedure. The mean time to development of a transfer lesion was 95.5 ± 98.1 days. All participants strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the outcome of the procedure. The flexor tenotomy is an effective procedure to expedite the healing of apical toe ulcers in people with loss of protective sensation and flexion digital deformity. It has a low infection rate and high patient satisfaction rate when performed in the outpatient setting. There is a moderate risk of transfer preulcerative lesions to an adjacent digit. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Prospective case series

Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Saudi Arabia

<P>Background and Aims: Considering that diabetic foot ulceration is one of the major health issues globally, we aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with foot ulcers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 81 T2DM patients (age range: 40-80 years) registered at the Diabetes Treatment Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between April and September 2015 were included in this cross-sectional study after purposive selection and assigning of patient numbers. The selected participants were interviewed and examined, and their medical records were reviewed for sensory, vibratory, and painful neuropathies; vascular insufficiency; retinopathy; and dermatological variations. The Wagner’s classification system was employed to evaluate the stage of patients’ foot ulcers. Results: Among the study participants [mean age range: 56.4 ± 6.72 years; 53 males (65.4%)], cases of loss of protective sensation, foot deformity, amputation history, and dermatological abnormalities were notable. The Wagner gradation value of ulcers were grade 0 for 16% study population, grade 1 for 35.8%, grade 2 for 45.7%, grade 3 for 2.5%, and grades 4 and 5 for 0%. Approximately 19% of the patients had a previous case of amputation and 29.6% had nail disease. The most common footwear reported to be used by the patients was sandals shoes (46%). Conclusion: The issues of loss of protective sensation, vascular insufficiency, deformity, previous amputations, and dermatological abnormalities of the lower limbs were found to be most common among the foot ulceration patients. The study findings thus recommend regular foot examination, following basic hygiene habits, encouragement of the use of appropriate footwear, patient education about foot ulcers, and prompt treatment for minor injuries to prevent further ulceration in DM patients.</P>

Comparative study of diabetes foot diagnosis using ABPI

User friendly product has been developed to analyze the user condition accurately and provide a digital output with low cost product to the end user for diagnosing diabetes foot. Detecting the level of peripheral neuropathy which significantly increases the risk of sustaining a foot wound called ‘loss of protective sensation. To implement a device to detect foot diabetes in patients using the Ankle Brachial pressure index values. The proposed system was tested by conducting experiment on 9 patients and whose ABPI value measured confirms the convention-al measured values.