Chantelau E, Breuer U, Leisch AC, Tanudjaja T, Reuter M, et al.
Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association. Date of publication 1993 Apr 1;volume 10(3):267-70.
1. Diabet Med. 1993 Apr;10(3):267-70.
Outpatient treatment of unilateral diabetic foot ulcers with 'half shoes'.
Chantelau E(1), Breuer U, Leisch AC, Tanudjaja T, Reuter M.
Author information:
(1)Medical Department of Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases,
Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
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.
PMID: 8485960 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
