Diabetes Care · 1994 · 635 citations · 0 references
Health ProfessionsOrthopaedic SurgeryDiabetic Foot CareDiabetologySensory EvaluationDiabetic Foot DiseaseDiabetic Foot Ulcer AssessmentDiabetic Foot UlcerationDiabetic Neuropathic FootFoot UlcerationFoot UlcersDiabetic Foot Risk AssessmentDiabetic Foot Ulcer Risk PredictionFoot Care EducationHuman Perception Of VibrationHuman Vibration PerceptionNeuropathic Ulcer RiskUlceration Risk AssessmentVibration Perception Thresholds
OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of vibration perception threshold (VPT) to predict the development of diabetic foot ulceration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective follow-up study of consecutive patients with vibration perception measured by biothesiometry from April 1988 to March 1989. Patients were stratified in various risk groups. RESULTS: Patients with a VPT < 15 V had a cumulative incidence of foot ulceration of 2.9% compared with 19.8% in patients with a VPT > 25 V, odds ratio (OR) 7.99 (3.65-17.5, 95% confidence intervals), P < 0.01. The incidence of ulceration increased with duration of diabetes, but even with this effect removed, the excess of ulceration persisted, OR 6.82 (2.75-16.92), P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: VPT is an effective predictor of the risk of foot ulceration in diabetes and therefore could be used to target foot-care education to those patients most likely to benefit and, thereby, possibly improve its effectiveness.