[The diabetic foot].

Abstract

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | PODIATRY MANAGEMENT 91 segmental limb pressures are more limited in their analysis in patients with calcified vessels. Transcutaneous oxygen partial pressures are performed on the skin adjacent to tissue loss to determine perfusion status. Early detection of vascular status allows the medical community to take a more proactive role in patient care to prevent medical complications arising from diabetes and PVD. Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) technology has profound implications and practical uses in the field of medicine. It has been developed as a screening tool for patients who are at risk of developing diabetic-foot ulcerations and tissue breakdown. HSI is designed to predict the development of diabetic-foot ulceration, with a high level of sensitivity and specificity before the ulcer becomes clinically apparent. It constructs a spatial anatomic map of tissue oximetry based on the utilization of molecular data by analyzing oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin levels. There is a growing number of such devices currently on the market and they are being evaluated for their Introduction Accord ing to the American Diabetes Association, more than 30 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. More than 190 million people are affected worldwide, and the number is expected to reach a staggering 642 million by the year 2040. If left untreated, many of these people can develop foot complications, such as a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Foot ulceration development among the diabetic population can be as high as 25%. All cases with a DFU are associated with high morbidity and mortality and have a significantly higher risk of lower-extremity amputation than patients without diabetes. Many of these patients also have other underlying medical illnesses, such as peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Management of diabetic-foot complications within the United States has posed a huge economic burden. As complications due to diabetes are ever increasing and have an enormous economic burden on patients and their families, early diagnosis and preventative measures are essential. In this article, we will present new technologies for early detection of diabetic foot disease, wearable technologies, and new treatments in the area of advances in wound care and limb salvage.