Method of healing diabetic forefoot ulcers

Area of Science:

• Podiatry
• Diabetic Foot Care
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Diabetic neuropathic ulcers of the foot sole are common and debilitating.
• These ulcers often lead to prolonged hospitalizations.
• Understanding the biomechanical forces involved is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a below-knee walking plaster with a rubber rocker for treating diabetic neuropathic foot sole ulcers.
• To investigate the biomechanical forces (vertical and shear) acting on the foot sole in relation to ulcer location.

Main Methods:

• Treatment of eight neuropathic foot sole ulcers in six diabetic patients using a below-knee walking plaster with a rubber rocker.
• Assessment of ulcer healing.
• Post-healing analysis of plantar foot forces to identify sites of maximal vertical and shear forces.

Main Results:

• All treated diabetic foot ulcers healed successfully.
• The treatment significantly reduced the typical duration of inpatient hospital stays.
• Ulcer sites correlated with maximal vertical and horizontal shear forces on the foot sole.

Conclusions:

• A below-knee walking plaster with a rubber rocker is a highly effective treatment for neuropathic foot sole ulcers, particularly when not complicated by deep sepsis or bone involvement.
• The treatment's success is linked to mitigating peak plantar forces.
• High recurrence rates may indicate a need for improved methods for protecting neuropathic feet post-healing.