Diabetic Foot Considerations Related to Plantar Pressures and Shear

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers are a complex, multifaceted, and widespread complication of diabetes mellitus. Although there are a multitude of risk factors contributing to diabetic foot ulcer development, pressure and (more recently) shear stresses are two biomechanical metrics that are gaining popularity for monitoring risk factors predisposing skin breakdown. Other areas of diabetic foot ulcers under research include plantar temperature measuring, as well as monitoring wear-time compliance and machine learning/AI algorithms. Charcot arthropathy is another diabetes complication that has a relationship with diabetic foot ulcer development, which should be monitored for development alongside ulcer development. The ability to monitor and prevent diabetic foot ulcer development and Charcot neuroarthropathy will lead to increased patient outcomes and patient quality of life.

Keywords: Charcot neuroarthropathy; Diabetes; Instrumentation; Shear and pressure; Skin ulceration.