Objective: To study the relationship between plantar pressure and diabetic foot ulcer and the assessment the usefulness of plantar pressure measurement in diabetic patients.
Method: The total 94 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. The plantar pressure was measured by using EMED-SF. And the nerve conduction studies, physical examination, and history taking were done. Patients were divided into 3 subgroups, Group A: without neuropathy and past ulcer history (n=31), Group B: with neuropathy and without past ulcer history (n=44), Group C: with neuropathy and past ulcer history (n=19).
Results: 1) There were significant increase in the maximum peak pressure (MPP) and the pressure-time integral (PTI) values in the Group C as compared with the Group A and B (p＜0.05). 2) As compared among the groups for each areas, the MPP and the PTI significantly higher in group C for heel, medial fore-foot, and lateral fore-foot area than in another two groups (p＜0.05).
Conclusion: The high plantar pressure was significantly related with diabetic foot ulcer history. The plantar pressure measurement may be useful in diabetic patients as a predictive and management aids of diabetic foot ulcer.
