Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a substantial dilemma for geriatric individuals with diabetes. The breakdown in tissue associated with DFU is typically a result of repetitive cycles of physical stress placed on the feet during weight-bearing activity. Accordingly, a key tenet in healing as well as preventing DFU is the use of offloading footwear to redistribute physical stress away from high stress locations such as bony prominences. Over the last several years there has been a substantial amount of effort directed at better understanding and implementing the practice of offloading. A review of this work as well as relevant technological advances is presented in this paper. Specifically, we will discuss the following topics in association with offloading diabetic feet: achieving optimal offloading, dosing activity/physical stress, thermal monitoring to detect preulcerative tissue damage, adherence with offloading devices, and optimizing the user experience. In addition to presenting progress to date, potential directions for further advancement are discussed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000486392 | DOI Listing |
J Foot Ankle Res
March 2025
The University of South Australia, Allied Health & Human Performance Unit, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Background: This study investigated the effect of various offloading devices commonly used for the management of diabetic foot ulcerations on peak plantar pressure and pressure-time integral of the contralateral limb.
Methods: A quantitative, randomised and within-subject repeated measures study was conducted in an outpatient gait laboratory. Outpatients with unilateral diabetic foot ulcers and adequate perfusion to the lower limb without an intrinsic limb-length discrepancy who were able to walk were recruited for the study.
J Biomech
January 2025
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Rehabilitation & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The offloading effectiveness of custom-made footwear for people with diabetes is assessed using plantar pressure measurements. While such pressure data is multidimensional, it is mostly analyzed using a scalar - maximum peak plantar pressure (PMax). We aimed to investigate the associations between multiple peak plantar pressure parameters for footwear assessment and determine whether this assessment depends on the chosen parameter.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Skin Wound Care
January 2025
At Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States, Livia Frost, BS, is Medical Student, School of Medicine; Ya Xu, MD, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology & Immunology; and Yuriko Fukuta, MD, PhD, CWSP, is Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases.
Diabetic foot bacterial osteomyelitis is a serious infection that can lead to major amputations. However, fungal osteomyelitis in a diabetic foot ulcer is uncommon and has been underrecognized. It typically occurs in patients with underlying immunocompromised status and is associated with poor outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Med
December 2024
Department of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes, leading to high mortality, reduced quality of life, neuropathy, ischemia, infection, and amputation risks. The prevalence of these ulcers is only on the rise as more people suffer from type 2 diabetes and obesity. The current wound management involves wound dressings, offloading, debridement, and infection control, but more must be done to keep up with the rising prevalence of DFUs and the strain they put on patients and the healthcare system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Diabetes Sci Technol
December 2024
Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, USA.
Background: Treatment of diabetes and its complications is a primary health care expense. Up to 25% of people with diabetes will develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Removable cast walker (RCW) boots commonly prescribed for DFU treatment, promote healing, and provide offloading and wound protection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!