loading… New Australian research from Mal Fernando and colleagues has again shown the importance of offloading the high plantar pressures found in people with diabetic foot ulcers. The Queensland based researchers measured plantar pressures in 21 persons with diabetic foot ulcers, and compared these with 69 diabetes and 56 healthy controls. When adjusted for a…

loading… Despite years of research, the cause of Charcot foot remains poorly understood. A relation between neuropathy and bone density has been suggested as possible explanation. New Australian research investigated the assertion that dense peripheral diabetic polyneuropathy is associated with osteopenia of foot bones. In a cross-sectional case-control design, the investigators from the University of…

loading… Both neuropathy and microvascular complications are major contributors to poor outcomes of diabetic foot disease. The interplay between this neural and microvascular dysfunction in diabetes is elaborate, but poorly understood. A new Australian study observed relationships between clinically apparent peripheral sensory neuropathy, cardiac autonomic function and microvascular reactivity (post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia). They found evidence…

loading… New research from Germany studied the progression of diabetic foot disease and the influence of relevant risk factors on disease progression. They found that patients with a first ulcer and patients with reulceration but without any previous amputation had a similar probability of healing without amputation. Patients with PAD had a 10-fold increased risk…

loading… Investing in evidence-based care for Australians with diabetic foot ulcers will cost more money in the short-term but save $2.7 billion over five years for Australia according to a new article published in the International Wound Journal. Health economic and diabetic foot researchers from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the Wound CRC…

loading… New research has been published showing an improvement of Australian rural and remote practitioners’ knowledge of diabetic foot disease. Doctoral candidate Schoen and colleagues from the University of Western Australia investigated differences in a diabetic foot knowledge test before and after an educational session. A total of 246 multidisciplinary health care professionals working in…

loading… Each person with a diabetic foot ulcer should be systematically evaluated, as recommended in Australian and international guidelines. Systematic evaluation can be used to determine who is at risk of a poor outcome, who needs urgent treatment, and what disciplines should be involved. Another reason for such evaluation is to capture, analyse and benchmark…

loading… Busy times for Australian researchers, with another paper being published this week. This latest research is on the fundamental side of the research spectrum, focusing on gait parameters of people with neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. It is an article to avoid if you are looking for direct clinical implications; however, it is a must…

loading… A new study, from DFAs Pete Lazzarini and colleagues, investigated the inpatient burden caused by foot-related conditions. The authors screened all patients in five carefully selected Queensland hospitals on one day, to find out how many had foot disease, foot trauma or another foot problem. An enormous undertaking, performed by a well-trained team. And…

loading… The majority of diabetic foot ulcers require offloading, to reduce plantar pressure and to heal the ulcer. Non-removable offloading devices are the gold standard, and advocated as such in Australian and international guidelines. However, non-removable offloading devices can be contra-indicated, and it is reported that both clinicians and patients frequently choose removable alternatives for…