Biomechanical Study of Patients With Diabetic Foot for the Establishment of a Preventive Orthopedic Treatment Protocol for Major Complications

Background

Diabetic foot is the syndrome characterized by tissue changes (skin, joint, and/or bone) of the feet of diabetic patients as a result of peripheral neuropathy induced by high glucose levels, which can be aggravated by the coexistence of microcirculation alterations blood and whose production involves micro-traumas as a result of support during walking. When tissue repair or regeneration mechanisms are not effective, these initial lesions can evolve into ulcerations, superficial and/or deep infections, osteomyelitis or dislocations of the foot joints (Charcot's foot), with serious consequences for the patient such as limb amputation, whose costs for Public Health are high. It should be taken into account that Spain is the country with the second-highest rate of population amputation due to the development of ulcers, behind the United States, where 2 out of 3 non-traumatic amputations derive from diabetes.

This is why the main objective of this project is to establish a study protocol for alterations in plantar pressures and gait abnormalities in diabetic patients, parallel to the preventive orthopedic treatment of major complications such as Charcot's foot, ulcers in the plantar support surface, and amputations.

As specific objectives proposed are the following:

1. To evaluate and objectify the clinical and biomechanical alterations of people with Diabetic foot before orthopedic treatment.
2. To analyze the effects of immediate orthopedic treatment in the medium and long term in people with Diabetic foot through biomechanical and clinical parameters.
3. To determine if the biomechanical analysis influences the decisions of the trauma doctors and rehabilitators treating the study participants.