Effects of felted foam on plantar pressures in the treatment of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.

Abstract

It is generally accepted that (besides infection control and revascularization, when necessary) pressure relief is the most important measure in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The use of felted foam dressings is a promising but not yet well-standardized technique for the treatment of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers and may have some advantage over total contact casting (1,2,3,4). We aimed to assess the effects of felted foam on plantar pressure reduction during the therapy of neuropathic foot ulcers and to define the optimal time course for renewal of the felted foam according to the plantar pressure. Using felted foam dressings, plantar pressure reduction and wound healing was determined in 9 type 1 and 19 type 2 diabetic patients (15 men and 13 women, aged 61.0 ± 13.6 years) with neuropathic foot ulcers up to a Wagner grade 2. Physical examination included the inspection of the foot and the palpation of the peripheral pulses. Peripheral diabetic neuropathy was evaluated by measuring the vibration …