Podiatry
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Item Foot and ankle pathologies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A narrative review(SpringerNature, 2017-09-01) Fellas, Antoni; Hawke, Fiona; Santos, Derek; Coda, AndreaIntroduction: Foot and ankle pathologies are common in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and can cause physical disability and reduce quality of life (1). Early detection and evidence-based treatment of these symptomatic pathologies are an important first step in preventing ongoing pain and long-term disabilities in children with JIA.Item Contribution of vision, touch, and hearing to the use of sham devices in acupuncture-related studies(Elsevier, 2019-12-23) Tan, Chee-Wee; Santos, DerekThis study investigates whether visual deprivation influences participants' accuracy in differentiating between real and sham acupuncture needles. It also evaluates the relative contributions of tactile, visual, and auditory cues that participants use in their decision-making processes. In addition, a simple sensory decision-making model for research using acupuncture sham devices as comparative controls is proposed. Forty healthy individuals underwent two conditions (blindfolded and sighted) in random sequence. Four sham and four real needles were randomly applied to the participants' lower limb acupoints (ST32 to ST39). Participants responded which needle type was applied. Participants then verbally answered a questionnaire on which sensory cues influenced their decision-making. The proportion of correct judgments, P(C), was calculated to indicate the participants' accuracy in distinguishing between the needle types. Visual deprivation did not significantly influence the participants' discrimination accuracy. Tactile cues were the dominant sensory modality used in decision-making, followed by visual and auditory cues. Sharp and blunt sensations were associated with the real and sham needles, respectively, for both conditions. This study confirmed that tactile cues were the main sensory modalities used in participant decision-making during acupuncture administration. Also, short-term blindfolding of participants during procedures will unlikely influence blinding effectiveness.Item Prediction of stump healing in lower limb amputation: A narrative review(Mark Allen Group, 2019-12-11) Ashraff, Suhel; Siddiqui, Muhammad A.; Santos, Derek; Carline, TomBoth types of diabetes, as well as different forms of acquired diabetes, are associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) is the condition most commonly related to somatic peripheral neuropathy, often leading to gangrene and limb amputation. Independent from large-vessel disease, sensory loss may result in DFU development and even amputation. The crucial part of any lower limb amputation is the stump healing process, which represents the central goal of postoperative management. Despite the importance attributed to this process, a standard set of guidelines regarding efficient healing methods is yet to be formulated. Health professionals are faced with the challenge of assessing the different risk factors and deciding which has a greater influence on the stump healing rate. There is currently an insufficient number of studies regarding factors effecting lower limb amputation. The main purpose of this review is to discuss the markers that can be helpful in the prediction of stump healing in patients who have undergone lower limb amputation.Item Alcohol injections for the treatment of intermetatarsal neuromas [Summary](2019-08-15) Santos, Derek; Coda, AndreaIntermetatarsal neuromas, sometimes called Morton’s neuroma, cause nerve pain in the forefoot. It arises due to entrapment of the nerve(s) supplying the toes(s) due to compression of the forefoot. Although any foot can be affected it’s uncommon to affect both feet. Similarly, it’s unusual to find multiple neuromas affecting the same foot. The condition is 8-10 times more common in females than males with people aged 45-50 years more at risk. The part of the forefoot most commonly affected is the third inter-metatarsal space with the first and fourth space rarely affected.Item Predictive parameters of arteriovenous fistula maturation in patients with end-stage renal disease(Korean Society of Nephrology, 2018-09-30) Siddiqui, Muhammad A.; Ashraff, Suhel; Santos, Derek; Rush, Robert; Carline, Tom; Raza, ZahidBackground:The objevctive of the present study was to explore the potential influence of blood markers and patient factors such as risk factors, kidney function profile, coagulation profile, lipid profile, body mass index, blood pressure, and vein diameter on the maturation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods:Retrospective data from 300 patients who had undergone AVF creation at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh were examined. A predictive logistic regression model was developed using a backward stepwise procedure. Model performance, discrimination, and calibration were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The final model was externally validated by 100 prospective patients who received a new fistula at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Results:A total of 400 (300 retrospective and 100 prospective) patients were recruited for this study, with a mean age of 60.14 ± 15.9 years (development set) and 58 ± 15 years (validation set), respectively (P = 0.208). Study results showed that males were twice as likely to undergo fistula maturation as females, while patients with no evidence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) were three times more likely to mature their fistula and a preoperative vein diameter > 2.5 mm resulted in a fivefold increase in fistula maturation as compared with a vein size of less than 2.5 mm. The model for fistula maturation had fair discrimination, as indicated by the area under the ROC curve (0.68), but good calibration as indicated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P = 0.79). The area under the receiver operating curve for the validation model in the validation set was 0.59. Similarly, in the validation set, the Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic indicated an agreement between the observed and predicted probabilities of maturation (P > 0.05). Conclusion:Gender, PVD, and vein size are independent predictors of AVF maturation. The clinical utility of these risk categories in the maturation of AVF requires further evaluation in longer follow-up.Item Complications of Stump Healing Among Diabetic Population(Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Turkey, 2018-06-19) Ashraff, Suhel; Siddiqui, Muhammad A.; Santos, Derek; Carline, TomLower limb amputation is a major procedure performed in diabetic patients with multiple comorbidities. Almost 10% of the National Health Service budget is taken up by diabetes, with diabetes-related complications accounting for 80% of the costs. The process of wound healing is complex and involves regenerating the cellular organization and the tissue layers. Diabetics are five times more predisposed to wound infection than patients without diabetes mellitus. The amputated stump frequently becomes infected due to inadequate blood circulation, a weak immune system, and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Pain, stump edema, and osteomyelitis are significant complications associated with lower limb amputation wounds. A number of factors may substantiate the need for re-amputation, such as stump pain and/or phantom limb pain, delayed stump infection, the formation of symptomatic bone spurs, assessment of the skin flap designed to preserve stump length, and preparation of the stump for the prosthetic device. There are currently no reliable standards that can be referred to prior to leg amputation. The clinicians, therefore, have to rely on their judgment and investigatory parameters. The main purpose of this review is to discuss the difficulties of stump healing in the diabetic population.Item Physical Examination Tools Used to Identify Swollen and Tender Lower Limb Joints in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Scoping Review(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2018-05-15) Fellas, Antoni; Singh-Grewal, Davinder; Santos, Derek; Coda, AndreaBackground. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common form of rheumatic disease in childhood and adolescents, affecting between 16 and 150 per 100,000 young persons below the age of 16. The lower limb is commonly affected in JIA, with joint swelling and tenderness often observed as a result of active synovitis. Objective. The objective of this scoping review is to identify the existence of physical examination (PE) tools to identify and record swollen and tender lower limb joints in children with JIA. Methods. Two reviewers individually screened the eligibility of titles and abstracts retrieved from the following online databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL. Studies that proposed and validated a comprehensive lower limb PE tool were included in this scoping review. Results. After removal of duplicates, 1232 citations were retrieved, in which twelve were identified as potentially eligible. No studies met the set criteria for inclusion. Conclusion. Further research is needed in developing and validating specific PE tools for clinicians such as podiatrists and other allied health professionals involved in the management of pathological lower limb joints in children diagnosed with JIA. These lower limb PE tools may be useful in conjunction with existing disease activity scores to optimise screening of the lower extremity and monitoring the efficacy of targeted interventions.Item Effectiveness of preformed foot orthoses in reducing lower limb pain, swollen and tender joints and in improving quality of life and gait parameters in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomised controlled trial (Protocol)(BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2017-11-30) Fellas, Antoni; Singh-Grewal, Davinder; Chaitow, Jeffrey; Santos, Derek; Coda, AndreaBackground Many children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis experience lower limb problems which may lead to physical disabilities significantly impacting on their quality of life and symptoms. Emerging evidence has identified the effective role of podiatry in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, suggesting the clinical benefit of different orthotic therapies. Methods This study will be a parallel-group designed, multicentre, randomised controlled trial, aiming to recruit 66 children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis aged between 5 and 18 years. Those recruited will need to be diagnosed according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria, and present with lower limb joint pain, swelling and/or tenderness. Participants will be recruited from three outpatient hospital clinics in New South Wales, Australia. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive a trial or control intervention. The trial group will be prescribed a customised preformed foot orthoses; instead, the control group will receive a flat 1 mm insole with no corrective modifications. Primary outcome measure recorded will be pain. Secondary outcomes will be quality of life, foot disability, swollen and tender joint count and gait parameters (such as plantar pressures, walking speed, stance and swing time). The allocated foot orthoses will be worn for 12 months, with data collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months intervals. Group allocation will be concealed and all analyses will be carried out on an intention to treat. Discussion The purpose of this trial is to explore the efficacy of a cost-effective, non-invasive podiatric intervention that will be prescribed at the initial biomechanical consultation. This approach will promote early clinical intervention, which is the gold standard in paediatric rheumatology. Furthermore, this study has the potential to provide new evidence for the effectiveness of a mechanical intervention alone to reduce swollen and tender joints in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.Item A modular device to measure the effects of plantar foot pressure on the microcirculation of the heel(Elsevier Science Ltd, 2003-03) Santos, Derek; Carline, Tom; Richmond, R.; Abboud, R.Background: Past research has concentrated on foot function and plantar foot pressure, with many devices developed for this purpose. However, little is known of how cutaneous blood flow compensates for ambulatory repetitive circulatory insults and how ulceration occurs. Objectives: To develop a system to measure the effects of plantar foot pressure on cutaneous blood flow in the supine and semi-weight bearing positions. Method: A system was developed that integrated a laser Doppler fluxmeter with a pressure probe, allowing plantar foot pressure and skin blood flow to be recorded simultaneously. The system was tested using four volunteers (288.6 years). Results: A significant difference existed between baseline laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in the supine and semi-weight bearing positions (P=0.023). Differences between both positions also existed in the reduction in LDF levels following application of pressure (P=0.015), the maximum hyperaemic response (P=0.034) and time taken to reach maximum hyperaemic response (P=0.019). Conclusion: The device has shown that with current technology it is now possible not only to investigate plantar foot pressure but also how it affects skin blood flow, which in some cases can lead to ulceration. The effect of plantar foot pressure on cutaneous blood flow differs depending on whether the subject is supine or semi-weight bearing. Thus, to understand the effects of plantar foot pressure on skin blood flow future researchers must ensure that subjects are in an upright position when recording.Item A systematic review of the sensitivity and specificity of the toe-brachial index for detecting peripheral artery disease(SAGE, 2016-05-10) Tehan, P. E.; Santos, Derek; Chuter, V. H.The toe-brachial index (TBI) is used as an adjunct to the ankle-brachial index (ABI) for non-invasive lower limb vascular screening. With increasing evidence suggesting limitations of the ABI for diagnosis of vascular complications, particularly in specific populations including diabetes cohorts, the TBI is being used more widely. The aim of this review was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the TBI for detecting peripheral artery disease (PAD) in populations at risk of this disease. A database search was conducted to identify current work relating to the sensitivity and specificity of toe-brachial indices up to July 2015. Only studies using valid diagnostic imaging as a reference standard were included. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to critically appraise included articles. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Sensitivity of the TBI for PAD was reported in all seven studies and ranged from 45% to 100%; specificity was reported by five studies only and ranged from 16% to 100%. In conclusion, this review suggests that the TBI has variable diagnostic accuracy for the presence of PAD in specific populations at risk of developing the disease. There was a notable lack of large-scale diagnostic accuracy studies determining the diagnostic accuracy of the TBI in detecting PAD in different at-risk cohorts. However, standardised normal values need to be established for the TBI to conclusively determine the diagnostic accuracy of this test.