Podiatry Today Current Issue

Survey: One-Third Of Hispanic Patients Exhibit Warning Signs Of Diabetes

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

Podiatrists often face the challenge of patients with diabetes who are unaware they have the disease. A new survey commissioned by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) discovers that such problems are particularly challenging among Hispanic-American patients, finding that a significant percentage of this patient population exhibits the warning signs of the disease.

One-third of Hispanic Americans without diabetes report foot and leg problems, according the APMA survey. These lower-extremity problems include numbness, tingling or burning, a

The FDA: Where Do We Go From Here?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

How bad have things gotten at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? When you consider some of the recent reports and developments over the past few months, it is clear that the FDA has significant credibility issues.

In June, a report by U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman revealed some eye-opening trends in FDA enforcement actions in recent years. According to the report, which reportedly involved an investigation and review of copious internal agency enforcement documentation, there was a greater than 50 percent decrease from 2000 to 2005 in the number of FDA

How To Achieve Optimal Perioperative Glycemic Control In Patients With Diabetes

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

As the role of the podiatric service becomes more integral to a multidisciplinary approach to diabetic limb salvage at an increasing number of institutions nationwide, many podiatric surgeons find themselves admitting these patients to their own service. The surgical and anesthesia teams often execute perioperative assessment and preparation, especially in non-elective procedures.

This article serves as a primer in glucose management for podiatric surgeons working in this capacity and in no way supersedes the utility of a medical consult when indicated

Secrets To Obtaining 100 Percent Patient Satisfaction

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

Do we all know the basics of how to make our patients’ visits satisfactory when they are in our office? What brings your patients back to your office once they have been there? What encourages your patients to send their friends, family and acquaintances to your practice? In today’s world of decreasing reimbursements for our hard work, we need to know how to work smarter so it does not feel like we are forced to work harder. Retaining patients and increasing the number of new patients we see can be easier than you think. All it requires is a little extra time and effort.

Bike Fit Evaluation: Can It Help Diagnose And Prevent Cycling Injuries?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

The sport of cycling has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. Athletes are utilizing bicycling not only as their primary sport but also as a form of cross training and rehabilitation. As a result of this growth, there has been a corresponding increase in the incidence of non-traumatic (overuse) injuries. Wilber, et. al., found 85 percent of cyclists to be suffering with one or more overuse injuries with the following distribution: neck (48.8 percent), knee (41.7 percent), groin and buttocks (36.1 percent), hand (31.1 percent) and back (30.3 percent).¹

Emerging Concepts In Podiatric Biomechanics

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

The world of podiatric biomechanics is very different now than when Merton Root, DPM, created the first Department of Podiatric Biomechanics at the California College of Chiropody in San Francisco in 1966.¹ During those exciting early years of development within the new subspecialty of “podiatric biomechanics,” Dr. Root and his podiatric colleagues created a classification system, based on the subtalar joint (STJ) neutral position, that remains to this day the most complete method by which to classify the structure of the foot and lower extremity.^1,2

A Closer Look At Bone Stimulators For Charcot

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

Charcot osteoarthropathy remains a chronic, progressive and destructive process that often affects the bony architecture and joints of the foot and ankle, primarily in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of this condition, the deformity continues to be associated with a high incidence of recurrence, treatment failure and resultant morbidity. If left untreated, Charcot foot predictably leads to deformity, ulceration, infection and amputation.

The mainstays of treatment for the Charcot foot hav

A Guide To Cutaneous Manifestations Of Diabetes

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

As the diabetic population continues to swell worldwide, there has also been an increased occurrence of various cutaneous manifestations associated with the disease. Researchers have reported a greater than 30 percent incidence of these disorders and they have been found in up to 70 percent of all patients with diabetes at some point during the course of their illness.^1-5 Another problematic statistic for the diabetic population is the fact that 15 percent of all people with diabetes will experience at least one ulceration during their lifetime.⁶

Exploring Current Approaches To Plantar Warts

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

In general, plantar warts are very difficult to treat and pose a certain challenge to physicians and their patients. Both physicians and patients should not be discouraged by an initial poor result. With proper communication between the doctor and patient, one can achieve realistic outcomes.

Too often, doctors downplay treatment, only to be reproached by a frustrated and angry patient who received unrealistic expectations. For example, the treatment of chemosurgery using acids may take as long as six weeks. If the warts resolve in three weeks, the

Treating A Patient With Blisters And Papules On The Soles

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

A 29-year-old Caucasian female patient presented in consultation in the foot and ankle clinic regarding a six-week history of erythematous vesicles and papules on the soles. She reported intense pruritus. Her primary care physician told her that she had a case of “athlete’s feet” and that she should use an over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal cream. After two weeks of treatment with antifungal cream, the patient had no improvement.

The primary care physician then prescribed a first-generation cephalosporin but after two weeks, the condition beca