Pedobarography as a clinical tool in the management of diabetic feet in New Zealand: a feasibility study

Jason K. Gurney, Uwe G. Kersting, Dieter Rosenbaum, Ajith Dissanayake, Steve York, Roger Grech, Anthony Ng, Bobbie Milne, James Stanley, Diana Sarfati

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungBegutachtung

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The peripheral complications of diabetes mellitus remain a significant risk to lower-limb morbidity. In New Zealand, risk of diabetes, comorbidity and lower-limb amputation are highly-differential between demographic groups, particularly ethnicity. There is growing and convincing evidence that the use of pedobarography - or plantar pressure measurement - can usefully inform diabetic foot care, particularly with respect to the prevention of re-ulceration among high-risk patients. METHODS: For the current feasibility study, we embedded pedobarographic measurements into three unique diabetic foot clinic settings in the New Zealand context, and collected pedobarographic data from n = 38 patients with diabetes using a platform-based (Novel Emed) and/or in-shoe-based system (Novel Pedar). Our aim was to assess the feasibility of incorporating pedobarographic testing into the clinical care of diabetic feet in New Zealand. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high response rate and positive self-reported experience from participants. As part of our engagement with participants, we observed a high degree of lower-limb morbidity, including current ulceration and chronic foot deformities. The median time for pedobarographic testing (including study introduction and consenting) was 25 min. Despite working with a high-risk population, there were no adverse events in this study. In terms of application of pedobarography as a clinical tool in the New Zealand context, the current feasibility study leads us to believe that there are two avenues that deserve further investigation: a) the use of pedobarography to inform the design and effectiveness of offloading devices among high-risk diabetic patients; and b) the use of pedobarography as a means to increase offloading footwear and/or orthoses compliance among high-risk diabetic patients. Both of these objectives deserve further examination in New Zealand via clinical trial.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer24
ZeitschriftJournal of Foot and Ankle Research
Jahrgang10
Ausgabenummer1
Seitenumfang13
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 09.06.2017

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