Long-term use of shoe orthoses significantly reduced diabetes-related amputations, according to study results recently presented at the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics World Congress in Hyderabad, India.
Researchers studied 114 Swedish patients with diabetes and a risk of developing foot ulcers. Over 2 years, patients wore one of three different types of shoe orthoses.
Results showed that the use of orthoses, podiatry, education and regular check-ups helped patients avoid foot ulcers. Overall, only 0.9% of participants developed new foot ulcers during the first year vs. an industry average of 3% to 8% reported in similar diabetic populations.