Association of remoteness and ethnicity with major amputation following minor amputation to treat diabetes-related foot disease.

INTRODUCTION: Minor amputation is commonly needed to treat diabetes-related foot disease (DFD). Remoteness of residence is known to limit access to healthcare and has previously been associated with poor outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations between ethnicity and remoteness of residency with the risk of major amputation and death following initial treatment of DFD by minor amputation. A secondary aim was to identify risk factors for major amputation and death following minor amputation to treat DFD. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of data from patients who required a minor amputation to treat DFD between 2000 and 2019 at a regional tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia. Baseline characteristics were collected together with remoteness of residence and ethnicity. Remoteness was classified according to the 2019 Modified Monash Model (MMM) system. Ethnicity was based on self-identification as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or non-Indigenous person. The outcomes of major amputation, repeat minor amputation and death were examined using Cox-proportional hazard analyses. RESULTS: A total of 534 participants were included, with 306 (57.3%) residing in metropolitan or regional centres, 228 (42.7%) in rural and remote communities and 144 (27.0%) were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. During a median (inter quartile range) follow-up of 4.0 (2.1-7.6) years, 103 participants (19.3%) had major amputation, 230 (43.1%) had repeat minor amputation and 250 (46.8%) died. The risks (hazard ratio [95% CI]) of major amputation and death were not significantly higher in participants residing in rural and remote areas (0.97, 0.67-1.47; and 0.98, 0.76-1.26) or in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people (HR 1.44, 95% CI 0.96, 2.16 and HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.67, 1.18). Ischemic heart disease (IHD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), osteomyelitis and foot ulceration (p<0.001 in all instances) were independent risk factors for major amputation. CONCLUSION: Major amputation and death are common following minor amputation to treat DFD and people with IHD, PAD and osteomyelitis have an increased risk of major amputation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and residents of remote areas were not at excess risk of major amputation.

How far has diabetes-related foot disease research progressed in Australia? A bibliometric review (1970-2023).

BACKGROUND: Diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) is a leading cause of the Australian and global disease burdens and requires proportionate volumes of research to address. Bibliometric analyses are rigorous methods for exploring total research publications in a field to help identify volume trends, gaps and emerging areas of need. This bibliometric review aimed to explore the volume, authors, institutions, journals, collaborating countries, research types and funding sources of Australian publications investigating DFD over 50 years. METHODS: A systematic search of the Scopus® database was conducted by two independent authors to identify all Australian DFD literature published between 1970 and 2023. Bibliometric meta-data were extracted from Scopus®, analyzed in Biblioshiny, an R Statistical Software interface, and publication volumes, authors, institutions, journals and collaborative countries were described. Publications were also categorised for research type and funding source. RESULTS: Overall, 332 eligible publications were included. Publication volume increased steadily over time, with largest volumes (78%) and a 7-fold increase over the last decade. Mean co-authors per publication was 5.6, mean journal impact factor was 2.9 and median citation was 9 (IQR2-24). Most frequent authors were Peter Lazzarini (14%), Vivienne Chuter (8%) and Jonathon Golledge (7%). Most frequent institutions affiliated were Queensland University Technology (33%), University Sydney (30%) and James Cook University (25%). Most frequent journals published in were Journal Foot and Ankle Research (17%), Diabetic Medicine (7%), Journal Diabetes and its Complications (4%) and International Wound Journal (4%). Most frequent collaborating countries were the United Kingdom (9%), the Netherlands (6%) and the United States (5%). Leading research types were etiology (38%), treatment evaluation (25%) and health services research (13%). Leading funding sources were no funding (60%), internal institution (16%) and industry/philanthropic/international (10%). CONCLUSIONS: Australian DFD research increased steadily until more dramatic increases were seen over the past decade. Most research received no funding and mainly investigated etiology, existing treatments or health services. Australian DFD researchers appear to be very productive, particularly in recent times, despite minimal funding indicating their resilience. However, if the field is to continue to rapidly grow and address the very large national DFD burden, much more research funding is needed in Australia, especially targeting prevention and clinical trials of new treatments in DFD.

The Stress of Measuring Plantar Tissue Stress in People with Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: Biomechanical and Feasibility Findings from Two Prospective Cohort Studies.

Reducing high mechanical stress is imperative to heal diabetes-related foot ulcers. We explored the association of cumulative plantar tissue stress (CPTS) and plantar foot ulcer healing, and the feasibility of measuring CPTS, in two prospective cohort studies (Australia (AU) and The Netherlands (NL)). Both studies used multiple sensors to measure factors to determine CPTS: plantar pressures, weight-bearing activities, and adherence to offloading treatments, with thermal stress response also measured to estimate shear stress in the AU-study. The primary outcome was ulcer healing at 12 weeks. Twenty-five participants were recruited: 13 in the AU-study and 12 in the NL-study. CPTS data were complete for five participants (38%) at baseline and one (8%) during follow-up in the AU-study, and one (8%) at baseline and zero (0%) during follow-up in the NL-study. Reasons for low completion at baseline were technical issues (AU-study: 31%, NL-study: 50%), non-adherent participants (15% and 8%) or combinations (15% and 33%); and at follow-up refusal of participants (62% and 25%). These underpowered findings showed that CPTS was non-significantly lower in people who healed compared with non-healed people (457 [117; 727], 679 [312; 1327] MPa·s/day). Current feasibility of CPTS seems low, given technical challenges and non-adherence, which may reflect the burden of treating diabetes-related foot ulcers.

The Why, What and Where Podcast on the Updated 2023 IWGDF Guideline on Offloading Treatments for Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers.

In this podcast the lead authors of the 2023 International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) guideline on offloading treatments for diabetes-related foot ulcers briefly discuss why we need offloading treatments for people with diabetes-related foot ulcers, what the new international offloading guideline recommends, and where offloading treatment might go into the future.A podcast audio is available with this article.

A new declaration for feet's sake: Halving the global diabetic foot disease burden from 2% to 1% with next generation care.

The 1989 Saint Vincent Declaration established a goal of halving global diabetes-related amputation rates. A generation later, this goal has been achieved for major but not minor amputations. However, diabetic foot disease (DFD) is not only a leading cause of global amputation but also of hospitalisation, poor quality of life (QoL) and disability burdens. In this paper, we review latest estimates on the global disease burden of DFD and the next generation care of DFD that could reduce this burden. We found DFD causes 2% of the global disease burden. This makes DFD the 13th largest of 350+ leading conditions causing the global disease burden, and much larger than dementia, breast cancer and type 1 diabetes. Neuropathy without ulcers and amputations makes up the largest portion of the global DFD burden yet receives the least DFD focus. Future care focussed on improving safe physical activity in people with DFD could considerably reduce the DFD burden, as this incorporates increasing physical fitness and QoL, while simultaneously decreasing ulceration and other risks. Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy is more prevalent than previously thought. Most cases respond well to non-removable offloading devices, but surgical intervention may further reduce the considerable burden of these neuropathic fracture dislocations. Ischaemia is becoming more common and complex. Most cases respond well to revascularisation interventions, but novel revascularisation techniques, medical management and autologous cell therapies may hold the key to more cases responding in the future. We conclude that DFD causes a global disease burden larger than most conditions and existing guideline-based care and next generation treatments can reduce this burden. We suggest the World Health Organization and International Diabetes Federation declare a new goal: halving the global DFD burden from 2% to 1% within the next generation.

Definitions and criteria for diabetes-related foot disease (IWGDF 2023 update).

Multiple disciplines are involved in the management of diabetes-related foot disease and a common vocabulary is essential for clear communication. Based on the systematic reviews of the literature that form the basis of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) Guidelines, the IWGDF has developed a set of definitions and criteria for diabetes-related foot disease. This document describes the 2023 update of these definitions and criteria. We suggest these definitions be used consistently in both clinical practice and research, to facilitate clear communication with people with diabetes-related foot disease and between professionals around the world.

Guidelines on offloading foot ulcers in persons with diabetes (IWGDF 2023 update).

AIMS: Offloading mechanical tissue stress is arguably the most important of multiple interventions needed to heal diabetes-related foot ulcers. This is the 2023 International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) evidence-based guideline on offloading interventions to promote healing of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes. It serves as an update of the 2019 IWGDF guideline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed the GRADE approach by devising clinical questions and important outcomes in the PICO (Patient-Intervention-Control-Outcome) format, undertaking a systematic review and meta-analyses, developing summary of judgement tables and writing recommendations and rationales for each question. Each recommendation is based on the evidence found in the systematic review, expert opinion where evidence was not available, and a careful weighing of GRADE summary of judgement items including desirable and undesirable effects, certainty of evidence, patient values, resources required, cost effectiveness, equity, feasibility, and acceptability. RESULTS: For healing a neuropathic plantar forefoot or midfoot ulcer in a person with diabetes, use a non-removable knee-high offloading device as the first-choice offloading intervention. If contraindications or patient intolerance to non-removable offloading exist, consider using a removable knee-high or ankle-high offloading device as the second-choice offloading intervention. If no offloading devices are available, consider using appropriately fitting footwear combined with felted foam as the third-choice offloading intervention. If such a non-surgical offloading treatment fails to heal a plantar forefoot ulcer, consider an Achilles tendon lengthening, metatarsal head resection, joint arthroplasty, or metatarsal osteotomy. For healing a neuropathic plantar or apex lesser digit ulcer secondary to flexibile toe deformity, use digital flexor tendon tenotomy. For healing rearfoot, non-plantar or ulcers complicated with infection or ischaemia, further recommendations have been outlined. All recommendations have been summarised in an offloading clinical pathway to help facilitate the implementation of this guideline into clinical practice. CONCLUSION: These offloading guideline recommendations should help healthcare professionals provide the best care and outcomes for persons with diabetes-related foot ulcers and reduce the person's risk of infection, hospitalisation and amputation.

Health-related quality of life in people with different diabetes-related foot ulcer health states: A cross-sectional study of healed, non-infected, infected, hospitalised and amputated ulcer states.

AIMS: Diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFU) are a leading cause of infection, hospitalisation and amputation. However, to our knowledge no studies have compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with DFU that were infected, hospitalised or amputated. This study aimed to investigate and compare the HRQoL of different groups of people with healed, non-infected, infected, hospitalised, or amputated DFU. METHODS: This was a multi-centre cross-sectional study measuring the HRQoL of patients, attending one of 18 Diabetic Foot Services across Queensland, Australia, with one of five DFU health states: healed, non-infected, infected, hospitalised, amputated. HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L to estimate age-sex adjusted utility values. RESULTS: Of 376 included patients (mean age 63 (12) years, 75% male), age-sex adjusted HRQoL utility estimates (95% CIs) were: healed DFU 0.57 (0.51-0.64), non-infected DFU 0.55 (0.49-0.62), infected DFU 0.45 (0.36-0.55), hospitalised DFU 0.53 (0.42-0.64), and amputated DFU 0.55 (0.46-0.63). CONCLUSION: People in any DFU health state have considerably reduced HRQoL, with greatest reductions in those with infected DFU. These findings provide valuable HRQoL estimates and comparisons for several different important DFU health states, adding to our understanding of the impact of DFU on HRQoL and facilitating future economic evaluations.

Australian evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetes-related foot disease: a guideline summary.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) - foot ulcers, infection, ischaemia - is a leading cause of hospitalisation, disability, and health care costs in Australia. The previous 2011 Australian guideline for DFD was outdated. We developed new Australian evidence-based guidelines for DFD by systematically adapting suitable international guidelines to the Australian context using the ADAPTE and GRADE approaches recommended by the NHMRC. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: This article summarises the most relevant of the 98 recommendations made across six new guidelines for the general medical audience, including: prevention - screening, education, self-care, footwear, and treatments to prevent DFD; classification - classifications systems for ulcers, infection, ischaemia and auditing; peripheral artery disease (PAD) - examinations and imaging for diagnosis, severity classification, and treatments; infection - examinations, cultures, imaging and inflammatory markers for diagnosis, severity classification, and treatments; offloading - pressure offloading treatments for different ulcer types and locations; and wound healing - debridement, wound dressing selection principles and wound treatments for non-healing ulcers. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AS A RESULT OF THE GUIDELINE: For people without DFD, key changes include using a new risk stratification system for screening, categorising risk and managing people at increased risk of DFD. For those categorised at increased risk of DFD, more specific self-monitoring, footwear prescription, surgical treatments, and activity management practices to prevent DFD have been recommended. For people with DFD, key changes include using new ulcer, infection and PAD classification systems for assessing, documenting and communicating DFD severity. These systems also inform more specific PAD, infection, pressure offloading, and wound healing management recommendations to resolve DFD.

How does the clinical practice of Aotearoa New Zealand podiatrists align with international guidelines for the prevention of diabetes-related foot disease? A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of preventive care for the lower limb in people with diabetes, and the absence of local guidelines in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), the aim of this study was to determine the alignment of assessment and management used in the prevention of diabetes-related foot disease by NZ podiatrists to the international prevention guideline recommendations. METHODS: A 37-item web-based survey was developed using a 5-point Likert scale (0 = always; 5 = never) based on the International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) 2019 prevention guidelines and included domains on participant demographics, sector, caseloads, guidelines, screening, management, education, and referral. The survey was distributed to NZ podiatrists through the NZ podiatry association and social media. Participants completing > 50% of items were included. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine differences between sector subgroups. RESULTS: Seventy-seven responses (16.3% of the NZ podiatry workforce) were received, of which 52 completed > 50% of items and were included. Of those 52 podiatrists, 73% were from the private sector. Public sector podiatrists reported higher weekly caseloads of patients with diabetes (p = 0.03) and foot ulcers (p < 0.001). The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) risk stratification pathway and IWGDF guidelines were the two most frequently utilised guidance documents. Participants reported median scores of at least "often" (< 2) for all items in the assessment and management, inspection, examination, and education provision domains for people with a high-risk foot. More than 50% of respondents reported screening more frequently than guideline recommendations for people with a very low to moderate risk foot. Structured education program was only used by 4 (5%) participants. Public sector podiatrists reported greater provision of custom-made footwear (p = 0.04) and multi-disciplinary team care (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: NZ podiatrists generally follow international guideline recommendations with respect to screening, self-care education, appropriate footwear, and treatment of risk factors for people at-risk of diabetes-related foot disease. However there may be over-screening of people with very low to medium risk occurring in clinical practice. Increasing access to integrated healthcare, custom-made footwear and structured educational programmes appear to be areas of practice that could be developed in future to help prevent diabetes-related foot disease in NZ.

A qualitative exploration of adherence to wearing removable cast walkers in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To explore adherence to wearing removable cast walkers (RCWs) among patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). METHOD: A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing patients with active DFUs and using knee-high RCWs as their offloading treatment. The interviews were undertaken at two diabetic foot clinics in Jordan, using a semi-structured guide. Data were analysed through content analysis by developing main themes and categories. RESULTS: Following interviews with 10 patients, two main key themes with a total of six categories were identified: theme 1-reporting of adherence levels was inconsistent, included two categories: i) a belief in achieving optimal adherence, and ii) non-adherence was often reported indoors; and theme 2-adherence was a consequence of multiple psychosocial, physiological and environmental factors, which included four categories: i) specific offloading knowledge or beliefs influenced adherence; ii) severity of foot disease influenced adherence; iii) social support benefitted adherence; and iv) physical features of RCWs (the usability of the offloading device) impacted adherence. CONCLUSION: Patients with active DFUs reported inconsistent levels of adherence to wearing RCWs which, after deeper investigation, seemed to be due to participants' misperceptions of the optimal adherence. Adherence to wearing RCWs also seemed to be impacted by multiple psychosocial, physiological and environmental factors.

Editor's Choice - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Incidence and Risk Factors for Re-admission to Hospital in People with Diabetes Related Foot Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review the incidence and risk factors for 30 day re-admission to hospital following an index admission to treat diabetes related foot disease (DFD). DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases. METHODS: The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies that reported the rate of total or DFD related 30 day re-admissions were included. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to calculate the pooled mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) of the proportion of patients re-admitted to hospital within 30 days. Meta-regression was performed to determine the association between risk factors and 30 day re-admission. RESULTS: Sixteen retrospective studies with a total of 124 683 participants were included. The mean total 30 day re-admission rate was 22.0% (95% CI 17.0 - 27.0%) while the mean DFD related 30 day re-admission rate was 10.0% (95% CI 7.0 - 15.0%). Meta-regression found that greater prevalence of peripheral neuropathy (p = .045) was associated with a higher rate of any 30 day re-admission, and male sex (p = .023) and private health insurance (p = .048) were associated with lower rates of any 30 day re-admission. Coronary artery disease (p= .025) was associated with a higher rate of DFD related re-admission. All studies had low or moderate risk of bias. CONCLUSION: This systematic review suggested that about one fifth of patients with DFD are re-admitted to hospital within 30 days, of which about half are to treat DFD. Risk factors for re-admission included female gender, peripheral neuropathy, lack of private health insurance, and coronary artery disease.

The Validity and Reliability of Self-Reported Adherence to Using Offloading Treatment in People with Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers.

Adherence to using offloading treatment is crucial to healing diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs). Offloading adherence is recommended to be measured using objective monitors. However, self-reported adherence is commonly used and has unknown validity and reliability. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of self-reported adherence to using removable cast walker (RCW) offloading treatment among people with DFUs. Fifty-three participants with DFUs using RCWs were included. Each participant self-reported their percentage adherence to using their RCW of total daily steps. Participants also had adherence objectively measured using dual activity monitors. After one week, a subset of 19 participants again self-reported their percentage adherence to investigate test-retest reliability. Validity was tested using Pearson's r and Bland-Altman tests, and reliability using Cohen's kappa. Median (IQR) self-reported adherence was greater than objectively measured adherence (90% (60-100) vs. 35% (19-47), p < 0.01). There was fair agreement (r = 0.46; p < 0.01) and large 95% limits of agreement with significant proportional bias (ß = 0.46, p < 0.01) for validity, and minimal agreement for test-retest reliability (K = 0.36; p < 0.01). The validity and reliability of self-reported offloading adherence in people with DFU are fair at best. People with DFU significantly overestimate their offloading adherence. Clinicians and researchers should instead use objective adherence measures.

Risk Factors for Hospital Re-admission for Diabetes Related Foot Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes related foot disease (DFD) is a common reason for admission to hospital, but the predictive factors for repeat admission are poorly defined. The primary aim of this study was to identify rates and predictive factors for DFD related hospital re-admission. METHODS: Patients admitted to hospital for treatment of DFD at a single regional centre were recruited prospectively between January 2020 and December 2020. Participants were followed for 12 months to evaluate the primary outcome of hospital re-admission. The relationship between predictive factors and re-admission were examined using non-parametric statistical tests and Cox proportional hazard analyses. RESULTS: The median age of the 190 participants was 64.9 (standard deviation 13.3) years and 68.4% were male. Forty-one participants (21.6%) identified themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. One hundred participants (52.6%) were re-admitted to hospital at least once over 12 months. The commonest reason for re-admission was for treatment of foot infection (84.0% of first re-admission). Absent pedal pulses (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26 - 2.85), loss of protective sensation (LOPS) (unadjusted HR 1.98; 95% CI 1.08 - 3.62), and male sex (unadjusted HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.03 - 2.54) increased the risk of re-admission. After risk adjustment, only absence of pedal pulses (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.27 - 2.91) and LOPS (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.09 - 3.74) significantly increased the risk of re-admission. CONCLUSION: Over 50% of patients admitted to hospital for treatment of DFD are re-admitted within one year. Patients with absent pedal pulses and those with LOPS are twice as likely to be re-admitted.

Cohort Study Examining the Presentation, Distribution, and Outcomes of Peripheral Artery Disease in Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Non-Indigenous Australians.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective cohort study investigated the anatomical distribution, severity, and outcome of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared with non-indigenous Australians. METHODS: The distribution, severity, and outcome of PAD were assessed using a validated angiographic scoring system and review of medical records in a cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-indigenous Australians. The relationship between ethnicity and PAD severity, distribution, and outcome were examined using non-parametric statistical tests, Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses. RESULTS: Seventy-three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and 242 non-indigenous Australians were included and followed for a median of 6.7 [IQR 2.7, 9.3] years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients were more likely to present with symptoms of chronic limb threatening ischaemia (81% vs. 25%; p < .001), had greater median [IQR] angiographic scores for the symptomatic limb (7 [5, 10] vs. 4 [2, 7]) and tibial arteries (5 [2, 6] vs. 2 [0, 4]) and had higher risk of major amputation (HR 6.1, 95% CI 3.6 - 10.5; p < .001) and major adverse cardiovascular events (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0 - 2.3; p = .036) but not for revascularisation (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5 - 1.3; p = .37) compared with non-indigenous Australians. The associations with major amputation and major adverse cardiovascular events were no longer statistically significant when adjusted for limb angiographic score. CONCLUSION: Compared with non-indigenous patients, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians had more severe tibial artery disease and a higher risk of major amputation and major adverse cardiovascular events.

Self-Monitoring Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers with the MyFootCare App: A Mixed Methods Study.

People with diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) need to perform self-care consistently over many months to promote healing and to mitigate risks of hospitalisation and amputation. However, during that time, improvement in their DFU can be hard to detect. Hence, there is a need for an accessible method to self-monitor DFUs at home. We developed a new mobile phone app, "MyFootCare", to self-monitor DFU healing progression from photos of the foot. The aim of this study is to evaluate the engagement and perceived value of MyFootCare for people with a plantar DFU over 3 months' duration. Data are collected through app log data and semi-structured interviews (weeks 0, 3, and 12) and analysed through descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Ten out of 12 participants perceive MyFootCare as valuable to monitor progress and to reflect on events that affected self-care, and seven participants see it as potentially valuable to enhance consultations. Three app engagement patterns emerge: continuous, temporary, and failed engagement. These patterns highlight enablers for self-monitoring (such as having MyFootCare installed on the participant's phone) and barriers (such as usability issues and lack of healing progress). We conclude that while many people with DFUs perceive app-based self-monitoring as valuable, actual engagement can be achieved for some but not for all people because of various facilitators and barriers. Further research should target improving usability, accuracy and sharing with healthcare professionals and test clinical outcomes when using the app.

Fragile Feet and Trivial Trauma: Communicating the Etiology of Diabetic Foot Ulcers to Patients.

People at risk for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) often misunderstand why foot ulcers develop and what self-care strategies may help prevent them. The etiology of DFU is complex and difficult to communicate to patients, which may hinder effective self-care. Thus, we propose a simplified model of DFU etiology and prevention to aid communication with patients. The Fragile Feet & Trivial Trauma model focuses on two broad sets of risk factors: predisposing and precipitating. Predisposing risk factors (eg, neuropathy, angiopathy, and foot deformity) are usually lifelong and result in "fragile feet." Precipitating risk factors are usually different forms of everyday trauma (eg, mechanical, thermal, and chemical) and can be summarized as "trivial trauma." We suggest that the clinician consider discussing this model with their patient in three steps: 1) explain how a patient's specific predisposing risk factors result in fragile feet for the rest of life, 2) explain how specific risk factors in a patient's environment can be the trivial trauma that triggers development of a DFU, and 3) discuss and agree on with the patient measures to reduce the fragility of the feet (eg, vascular surgery) and prevent trivial trauma (eg, wear therapeutic footwear). By this, the model supports the communication of two essential messages: that patients may have a lifelong risk of ulceration but that there are health-care interventions and self-care practices that can reduce these risks. The Fragile Feet & Trivial Trauma model is a promising tool for aiding communication of foot ulcer etiology to patients. Future studies should investigate whether using the model results in improved patient understanding and self-care and, in turn, contributes to lower ulceration rates.

Differences in adherence to using removable cast walker treatment during daytime and nighttime weight-bearing activities in people with diabetes-related foot ulcers.

Aims: Patients' adherence to using knee-high offloading treatment is critical to effective healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs). Previous studies have found that patients generally have low adherence to using removable knee-high offloading treatments, yet no study has investigated whether their adherence differs during daytime and nighttime. This study aimed to investigate the levels and factors associated with adherence to using knee-high removable cast walker (RCW) treatment during daytime and nighttime weight-bearing activities in people with DFUs. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data collected from a multi-centre cross-sectional study investigating adherence to using knee-high RCWs among 57 participants with DFUs. All participants had multiple socio-demographic, physiological and psychosocial factors collected, before having their adherence to using RCWs during weight-bearing activity monitored over a 1-week period using the dual activity monitor method. Adherence data were categorised into daytime (06:00-18:00) and nighttime (18:00-06:00) periods and calculated separately. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with daytime and nighttime adherence. Results: Mean adherence to using RCW during weight-bearing activities in people with DFUs was higher during daytime compared with nighttime [39.9% (SD = 18.9) versus 20.4% (SD = 16.7), p < 0.001]. Factors independently associated with lower adherence during daytime were being male, longer diabetes duration, not having peripheral artery disease (PAD), and higher perceived RCW heaviness. Factors associated with lower adherence during nighttime were higher mean daytime steps, not having retinopathy and having dyslipidaemia. Conclusions: Adherence to using RCWs during weight-bearing activities reduced significantly at nighttime compared with daytime among people with DFUs, and this was associated with different factors. Interventions to improve adherence, in research and clinical practice, should incorporate methods to target daytime or nighttime adherence specifically.

Global trends in the incidence of hospital admissions for diabetes-related foot disease and amputations: a review of national rates in the 21st century.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Diabetic foot disease (DFD) is a leading cause of hospital admissions and amputations. Global trends in diabetes-related amputations have been previously reviewed, but trends in hospital admissions for multiple other DFD conditions have not. This review analysed the published incidence of hospital admissions for DFD conditions (ulceration, infection, peripheral artery disease [PAD], neuropathy) and diabetes-related amputations (minor and major) in nationally representative populations. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched for peer-reviewed publications between 1 January 2001 and 5 May 2022 using the terms 'diabetes', 'DFD', 'amputation', 'incidence' and 'nation'. Search results were screened and publications reporting the incidence of hospital admissions for a DFD condition or a diabetes-related amputation among a population representative of a country were included. Key data were extracted from included publications and initial rates, end rates and relative trends over time summarised using medians (ranges). RESULTS: Of 2527 publications identified, 71 met the eligibility criteria, reporting admission rates for 27 countries (93% high-income countries). Of the included publications, 14 reported on DFD and 66 reported on amputation (nine reported both). The median (range) incidence of admissions per 1000 person-years with diabetes was 16.3 (8.4-36.6) for DFD conditions (5.1 [1.3-7.6] for ulceration; 5.6 [3.8-9.0] for infection; 2.5 [0.9-3.1] for PAD) and 3.1 (1.4-10.3) for amputations (1.2 [0.2-4.2] for major; 1.6 [0.3-4.3] for minor). The proportions of the reported populations with decreasing, stable and increasing admission trends were 80%, 20% and 0% for DFD conditions (50%, 0% and 50% for ulceration; 50%, 17% and 33% for infection; 67%, 0% and 33% for PAD) and 80%, 7% and 13% for amputations (80%, 17% and 3% for major; 52%, 15% and 33% for minor), respectively. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that hospital admission rates for all DFD conditions are considerably higher than those for amputations alone and, thus, the more common practice of reporting admission rates only for amputations may substantially underestimate the burden of DFD. While major amputation rates appear to be largely decreasing, this is not the case for hospital admissions for DFD conditions or minor amputation in many populations. However, true global conclusions are limited because of a lack of consistent definitions used to identify admission rates for DFD conditions and amputations, alongside a lack of data from low- and middle-income countries. We recommend that these areas are addressed in future studies. REGISTRATION: This review was registered in the Open Science Framework database ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/4TZFJ ).

Personalized Offloading Treatments for Healing Plantar Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Non-removable knee-high devices are the gold-standard offloading treatments to heal plantar diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). These devices are underused in practice for a variety of reasons. Recommending these devices for all patients, regardless of their circumstances and preferences influencing their ability to tolerate the devices, does not seem a fruitful approach. PURPOSE: The aim of this article is to explore the potential implications of a more personalized approach to offloading DFUs and suggest avenues for future research and development. METHODS: Non-removable knee-high devices effectively heal plantar DFUs by reducing plantar pressure and shear at the DFU, reducing weight-bearing activity and enforcing high adherence. We propose that future offloading devices should be developed that aim to optimize these mechanisms according to each individual's needs. We suggest three different approaches may be developed to achieve such personalized offloading treatment. First, we suggest modular devices, where different mechanical features (rocker-bottom sole, knee-high cast walls/struts, etc.) can be added or removed from the device to accommodate different patients' needs and the evolving needs of the patient throughout the treatment period. Second, advanced manufacturing techniques and novel materials could be used to personalize the design of their devices, thereby improving common hindrances to their use, such as devices being heavy, bulky, and hot. Third, sensors could be used to provide real-time feedback to patients and clinicians on plantar pressures, shear, weight-bearing activity, and adherence. CONCLUSIONS: By the use of these approaches, we could provide patients with personalized devices to optimize plantar tissue stress, thereby improving clinical outcomes.