Wu SC, Jensen JL, Weber AK, Robinson DE, Armstrong DG, et al.
Diabetes care. Date of publication 2008 Nov 1;volume 31(11):2118-9.
1. Diabetes Care. 2008 Nov;31(11):2118-9. doi: 10.2337/dc08-0771. Epub 2008 Aug 11.
Use of pressure offloading devices in diabetic foot ulcers: do we practice what
we preach?
Wu SC(1), Jensen JL, Weber AK, Robinson DE, Armstrong DG.
Author information:
(1)Scholl's Center for Lower-Extremity Ambulatory Research, Rosalind Franklin
Universityof Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois, USA.
stephanie.wu@rosalindfranklin.edu
OBJECTIVE: Pressure mitigation is crucial for the healing of plantar diabetic
foot ulcers. We therefore discuss characteristics and considerations associated
with the use of offloading devices.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A diabetic foot ulcer management survey was sent to
foot clinics in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2005. A total of
901 geographically diverse centers responded. The survey recorded information
regarding usage frequency and characteristics of assessment and treatment of
diabetic foot ulcers in each center.
RESULTS: Of the 895 respondents who treat diabetic foot ulcers, shoe
modifications (41.2%, P < 0.03) were the most common form of pressure mitigation,
whereas total contact casts were used by only 1.7% of the centers.
CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the usage and characteristics of offloading
devices in the care of diabetic foot ulcers in a broadly distributed geographic
sample. Less than 2% of specialists use what has been termed the "gold standard"
(total contact cast) for treating the majority of diabetic foot ulcers.
DOI: 10.2337/dc08-0771
PMCID: PMC2571059
PMID: 18694976 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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