Outpatient treatment of unilateral diabetic foot ulcers with 'half shoes'

The impact of 'half shoes' in the treatment of neuropathic forefoot ulcers was studied in two groups of diabetic patients, who were treated either by standard treatment alone (retrospective controls, n = 22), or by standard treatment plus 'half shoes' (cases, n = 26). The groups were matched for sex, age, type, and duration of diabetes and ulcer grading. The 'half-shoe' cases' vs controls' median overall healing time was 70 vs 118 days, the median difference being 48 (95% CI: -5 to 82) days (NS). In the case group, hospitalization was required in 1/26 (4%) of patients, vs 9/22 (41%) of the control patients (chi-square, p < 0.01). The home nursing service was required in 23% of the cases vs 18% of the controls (NS). It is concluded that the use of half-shoes, in conjunction with standard treatment provided by a specialized diabetic foot clinic, may reduce the overall healing time and does reduce the hospitalization rate. This has implications for a rational strategy of treating unilateral diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers.