ROSEMONT, IL--(Marketwire - November 29, 2007) - Disease of and injury to the feet and lower
legs is a lifelong concern for diabetes patients. They are twice as likely
to suffer from these conditions as non-diabetic patients. These problems
also affect 30 percent of patients dealing with diabetes who are over the
age of 40.
However, new research offers more hope for effective treatment of lower
extremity disease, as well as prevention of the condition. "What's New in
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation," a paper published in the October, 2007 issue
of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, reviews some of these
discoveries, as well as other innovations on the horizon in the field of
orthopaedic surgery.
Diabetes can damage nerves, making injuries difficult to detect in the
early stages; the disease can also inhibit circulation, preventing
effective healing. Patients with diabetes that have nerve involvement
(neuropathy) and poor circulation (micro angiopathy) need to maintain
additional precautions to prevent injury and infection. Uncontrolled
infections, poor healing and progressive neuropathy can in some cases lead
to gangrene and surgical amputations. This condition is frequently seen by
orthopaedic surgeons.
"Prevention is the goal and should be the goal," says Harish S. Hosalkar,
MD, co-author of the paper and an orthopaedic surgery clinical instructor
at the University of Pennsylvania. "Once an injury has occurred the risk is
much greater, so it's best if we can prevent or stop it before it happens."
One recent study found that patients who monitored the temperatures of
their feet and reduced their activity when those temperatures were elevated
had a lower rate of infection and other subsequent complications. Hosalkar
notes that this finding is especially exciting because of its simplicity.
"This is not only an effective prevention strategy, but it's also very easy
for patients and caregivers to carry out," he says.
Another study showed that the detailed assessments currently used by
healthcare providers to identify diabetes patients at risk for foot ulcers
were largely effective. These assessments allowed care providers to
initiate interventions such as:
-- Patient education
-- Prescription footwear
-- Intensive foot care
Two additional studies, found that some quicker casting methods were just
as effective at healing lower extremity disease as the standard total
contact casts (TCCs) currently used. This could be good evidence for
clinicians who work in extremely busy foot clinics and other similar
settings (like diabetic camps) where they might see 100 or more patients
with foot problems each day.
To view this release online, go to
http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2007/aaos112907/index.html.
Contact Information: For more information, contact:
Lauren Pearson
847/384-4031
Catherine Dolf
847/384-4034