Wilbright WA, Birke JA, Patout CA, Varnado M, Horswell R, et al.
Advances in skin & wound care. Date of publication 2004 Jun 1;volume 17(5 Pt 1):232-8.
1. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2004 Jun;17(5 Pt 1):232-8.
The use of telemedicine in the management of diabetes-related foot ulceration: a
pilot study.
Wilbright WA(1), Birke JA, Patout CA, Varnado M, Horswell R.
Author information:
(1)Medical Informatics and Telemedicine Program, School of Public Health and
Preventive Medicine, Louisiana Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if the management of forefoot ulcerations through
telemedicine is medically equivalent to ulcer care at a diabetes foot program.
DESIGN: Nonrandomized comparison of forefoot ulcer healing rates.
SETTING: The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Diabetes Foot
Program, Baton Rouge, LA, and Lallie Kemp Medical Center, Independence, LA.
PARTICIPANTS: Twenty consecutive patients with diabetes were treated for
neuropathic forefoot ulcerations via telemedicine consultation and 120
consecutive patients with diabetes were treated face-to-face at a diabetes foot
program.
INTERVENTIONS: Management of forefoot ulcers by a certified wound care nurse
trained in the use of a staged management approach algorithm and alternative
off-loading methods, supported by real-time interactive telemedicine
consultation.
MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: Forefoot ulcer healing time in days, percentage of wounds
healed in 12 weeks, and healing time ratio (adjusted for age, gender, ulcer
duration, location, size, crossover, and grade).
RESULTS: No differences were found between the telemedicine and diabetes foot
program groups in the average forefoot ulcer healing time (43.2 + 29.3 vs. and
45.5 + 43.4 days, P =.828), the percent of forefoot ulcers healed in 12 weeks (75
% vs. 81%, P =.546) and the adjusted healing time ratio (1.40 vs 1.00, P =.104).
CONCLUSION: These data appear to support the effectiveness of real-time
interactive telemedicine consultation in the management of diabetes-related
forefoot ulceration.
DOI: 10.1097/00129334-200406000-00012
PMID: 15192491 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
