Search Results
Background: To evaluate complications and risk factors for nonunion in patients with diabetes after ankle fracture.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 139 patients with diabetes and ankle fractures followed for 1 year. We evaluated the incidence of wounds, infections, nonunions, Charcot’s arthropathy, and amputations. We determined Fracture severity (unimalleolar, bimalleolar, trimalleolar), nonunion, and Charcot’s arthropathy from radiographs. Nonunion was defined as a fracture that did not heal within 6 months of fracture. Analysis of variance was used to compare continuous variables, and χ2 tests to compare dichotomous variables, with α = 0.05. Logistic regression was performed with a binary variable representing nonunions as the dependent variable.
Results: Complications were common: nonunion (24.5%), Charcot’s arthropathy (7.9%), wounds (5.2%), wound site infection (17.3%), and leg amputation (2.2%). Patients with nonunions were more likely to be male (55.9% versus 29.5%; P = .005), have sensory neuropathy (76.5% versus 32.4%; P < .001), have end-stage renal disease (17.6% versus 2.9%; P < .001), and use insulin (73.5% versus 40.1%; P < .001), β-blockers (58.8% versus 39.0%; P = .049), and corticosteroids (26.5% versus 9.5%; P = .02). Among patients with nonunion, there was an increased risk of wounds (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46–7.73), infection (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 0.72–5.61), amputation (OR, 7.74; 95% CI, 1.01–100.23), and long-term bracing (OR, 9.51; 95% CI, 3.8–23.8). In the logistic regression analysis, four factors were associated with fracture nonunion: dialysis (OR, 7.7; 95% CI, 1.7–35.2), insulin use (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5–7.4), corticosteroid use (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 1.4–18.0), and ankle fracture severity (bimalleolar or trimalleolar fracture) (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1–5.4).
Conclusions: These results demonstrate risk factors for nonunions: dialysis, insulin use, and fracture severity after ankle fracture in patients with diabetes.
One hundred eighty-seven type 2 diabetic patients without a history of foot ulceration were followed for a mean period of 3.6 years to investigate the incidence of foot ulceration in a diabetes cohort and to analyze risk factors for foot ulceration by multivariate means. During the study, 10 subjects developed 18 forefoot ulcerations. In multivariate logistic regression, significant predictors for foot ulceration were an elevated vibration perception threshold (VPT) (relative risk [RR] = 25.4), an increased plantar pressure (RR = 6.3), and daily alcohol intake (RR = 5.1). This is the first prospective study to demonstrate plantar pressure and daily alcohol intake as predictors of foot ulceration among patients without previous ulceration. Further, VPT could be confirmed as the strongest predictor for foot ulceration, and it was clearly demonstrated that the more pronounced severity of complications occurred among subjects with elevated VPT. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 91(7): 343-350, 2001)
Background
Toe pressures and the toe brachial index (TBI) represent possible screening tools for peripheral arterial disease; however, limited evidence is available regarding their reliability. The aim of this study was to determine intratester and intertester reliability of toe systolic pressure and the TBI in participants with and without diabetes performed by podiatric physicians.
Methods
Two podiatric physicians performed toe and brachial pressure measurements on 80 participants, 40 with and 40 without diabetes, during two testing sessions using photoplethysmography and Doppler probe. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and 95% limits of agreement were determined.
Results
In people with diabetes, intratester reliability of toe pressure measurement was excellent for both testers (ICCs, 0.84 and 0.82). Reliability of the TBI was good (ICCs, 0.72 and 0.75) and brachial pressure fair (ICCs, 0.43 and 0.55). The intertester reliability of toe pressure (ICC, 0.82) and the TBI (ICC, 0.80) was excellent. Intertester reliability of brachial pressure was reduced in people with diabetes (ICC, 0.49). In age-matched participants, intratester reliability of toe pressure measurement was excellent for both testers (ICCs, 0.83 and 0.87), and reliability of the TBI (ICCs, 0.74 and 0.80) and brachial pressure (ICCs, 0.73 and 0.78) was good to excellent. Intertester reliability of toe pressure (ICC, 0.84), the TBI (ICC, 0.81), and brachial pressure (ICC, 0.77) was excellent.
Conclusions
Toe pressures and the TBI demonstrated excellent reliability in people with and without diabetes and can be an effective component of lower-extremity vascular screening. However, wide limits of agreement relative to blood pressure values for both cohorts indicate that results should be interpreted with caution.
Background: Foot ulcers and infections are a major and costly problem in patients with diabetes and a major cause of amputations. Plantar peak pressure plays an essential role in plantar ulceration. Off-loading is a common tool to reduce plantar peak pressure and risk of ulceration. The goal of this study was to determine whether reduction of plantar peak pressure can be achieved using a walking bike (a bike without pedals) compared with walking.
Methods: The study starts with a PubMed literature review. In a blinded prospective protocol, 14 healthy individuals (seven men, seven women; mean ± SD age, 39.5 ± 11.3 years) are included. In-shoe pedobarography sensors were attached between the skin and the standardized shoes, then participants walked 10 m three times and then moved over the same distance using a walking bike without removal of the sensor (three times) in a gait laboratory (84 measurements).
Results: In this single-blinded prospective study, mean ± SD plantar peak pressure was significantly reduced from 49.4 ± 12.9 N/cm2 with walking to 35.2 ± 14.6 N/cm2 using a walking bike (P = .003). Mean ± SD step length increased significantly from 0.68 ± 0.13 m to 0.91 ± 0.19 m (P < .001) due to a significantly reduced number of steps (from 7.7 ± 1.4 steps per 10 m of walking to 5.7 ± 1.1 steps per 10 m of using a walking bike; P < .001).
Conclusions: Plantar peak pressure is a risk factor for ulceration in diabetes. Herein, a significant reduction of plantar peak pressure was seen using a walking bike compared with walking (P = .003). Walking bikes may be a tool for off-loading for diabetic patients, especially if both feet are ulcerated. Additional studies to validate these findings in patient care are planned.
Diabetes mellitus commonly causes complications of the foot that can lead to surgery. The appropriate perioperative management of diabetic patients can reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetic foot surgery and enhance wound healing. The authors review the effects of hyperglycemia, detail preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care, and describe anesthetic choices. An algorithm for management of hypoglycemia is offered.
Background:
Diabetes mellitus is a predisposing factor for onychomycosis (OM). A high frequency of nonfungal onychodystrophy (OD) is also alleged, although information on the prevalence of specific nail changes is scant. We evaluated the prevalence and types of nail changes in a cohort of diabetic patients with fungal and nonfungal OD.
Methods:
During a 6-month period, inpatients with diabetes mellitus were screened for foot and toenail changes. Demographic, social, and clinical data were recorded, as was information concerning foot and toenail care. Fungal infection was confirmed by mycologic examination and by histologic analysis of nail clippings.
Results:
Of the 82 patients included, 65 (79.3%) had nail changes, and 34 of these 65 patients (52.3%) were diagnosed as having OM. The most frequently observed nail signs were subungual hyperkeratosis, onycholysis, yellow discoloration, and splinter hemorrhages, each seen in more than 25% of the patients. Tinea pedis and superficial pseudoleukonychia were observed more frequently in the OM group (P < .05). Conversely, prominent metatarsal heads and history of nail trauma were more frequent in patients with nonfungal OD (P < .05).
Conclusions:
Physicians who care for diabetic patients should not ignore nail changes. Fungal and nonfungal OD are common and should be addressed in the global evaluation of the feet to help prevent breaks in the skin barrier and subsequent bacterial infections and ulcers.
Ciclopirox 8% Nail Lacquer Topical Solution for the Treatment of Onychomycosis in Patients with Diabetes
A Multicenter, Open-Label Study
Background: An open-label, noncomparative study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer topical solution in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods: Forty-nine diabetic patients with distal subungual onychomycosis were treated once daily for 48 weeks with ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer, a topical nail solution approved for the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate onychomycosis.
Results: Treatment resulted in clinical improvement in 63.4% of patients. Most patients (85.7%) had a mycologic outcome of improvement or cure, with 54.3% attaining mycologic cure. Consideration of mycologic and clinical outcomes generated a treatment outcome of improvement, success, or cure in 84.4% of patients. Moreover, patients experienced improvement in the diseased area of the nail (63.4%), nail surface (56.1%), nail color (48.8%), and nail thickness (65.9%). Ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer was safe, with treatment-related adverse events limited to infection in one patient, which resolved in 15 days; the patient completed the study. No treatment-related serious adverse events were observed.
Conclusion: Ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer is a safe and effective treatment for distal subungual onychomycosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving insulin or oral hypoglycemic therapy. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 97(3): 195–202, 2007)
Background:
Metabolic disorders are known to alter the mechanical properties of tendons. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic Achilles tendon enthesopathic changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without peripheral neuropathy.
Methods:
We recruited 43 patients with T2DM and 40 controls. Neuropathy was excluded with the Michigan Neuropathy Scoring Instrument. Bilateral ultrasonography of the Achilles tendon enthesis was performed.
Results:
Patients with T2DM had a higher prevalence of hypoechogenicity (26.7% versus 2.5%; P = .0001), entheseal thickening (24.4% versus 8.7%; P = .007), and enthesophytes (74.4% versus 57.5%; P = .02). No differences were found in the number of patients with erosions (1.2% versus 0%; P > .99), cortical irregularities (11.6% versus 3.7%; P = .09), bursitis (5.8% versus 3.7%; P = .72), or tears (2.3% versus 1.2%; P > .99). The mean ± SD sum of abnormalities was higher in patients with T2DM (1.5 ± 1.1 versus 0.7 ± 0.6; P < .0001), as was the percentage of bilateral involvement (72.1% versus 45.0%; P = .01). Mean ± SD thickness did not differ between patients and controls (4.4 ± 1.1 mm versus 4.2 ± 0.8 mm; P = .07).
Conclusions:
According to our data, there is an elevated prevalence of asymptomatic Achilles tendon enthesopathic changes in patients with T2DM independent of peripheral neuropathy.
The authors undertook a study to evaluate the prevalence of ankle equinus and its potential relationship to high plantar pressure in a large, urban population with diabetes mellitus. The first 1,666 consecutive people with diabetes (50.3% male; mean [±SD] age, 69.1 ± 11.1 years) presenting to a large, urban, managed-care outpatient clinic were enrolled in this longitudinal, 2-year outcomes study. Patients received a standardized medical and musculoskeletal assessment at the time of enrollment, including evaluation at an onsite gait laboratory. Equinus was defined as less than 0° of dorsiflexion at the ankle. The overall prevalence of equinus in this population was 10.3%. Patients with equinus had significantly higher peak plantar pressures than those without the deformity and were at nearly three times greater risk for presenting with elevated plantar pressures. There were no significant differences in age, weight, or sex between the two groups. However, patients with equinus had a significantly longer duration of diabetes than those without equinus. Having a high index of suspicion for this deformity and subsequently addressing it through conservative or surgical means may help to reduce the risk of foot ulceration and amputation. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 92(9): 479-482, 2002)
A randomized controlled study of 19 patients with diabetes mellitus (10 men, 9 women) was undertaken to determine the effects of home exercise therapy on joint mobility and plantar pressures. Of the 19 subjects, 9 subjects performed unsupervised active and passive range-of-motion exercises of the joints in their feet. Each subject was evaluated for joint stiffness and peak plantar pressures at the beginning and conclusion of the study. After only 1 month of therapy, a statistically significant average decrease of 4.2% in peak plantar pressures was noted in the subjects performing the range-of-motion exercises. In the control group, an average increase of 4.4% in peak plantar pressures was noted. Although the joint mobility data revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups, there was a trend for a decrease in joint stiffness in the treatment group. The results of this study demonstrate that an unsupervised range-of-motion exercise program can reduce peak plantar pressures in the diabetic foot. Given that high plantar pressures have been linked to diabetic neuropathic ulceration, it may be possible to reduce the risk of such ulceration with this therapy. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 92(9): 483-490, 2002)
