Role of experimental socks in the care of the high-risk diabetic foot. A
multicenter patient evaluation study. American Group for the Study of
Experimental Hosiery in the Diabetic Foot
HJ Murray, A Veves, MJ Young, DH Richie and AJ Boulton
Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, United
Kingdom.
OBJECTIVE--To assess the acceptability of specially designed socks to
provide satisfactory pressure relief in the insensitive, high-risk,
diabetic foot. We have conducted a longitudinal multicenter patient
evaluation study to assess the acceptability of such hosiery in
neuropathic diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--A
group of 86 neuropathic diabetic patients (69 males, 14 with type
I diabetes) with a mean age of 63 yr (range 34-85 yr), and a
diabetes duration of 16 yr (range 1-45 yr) participated in the
study. Peripheral vascular disease was present in 28 (33%)
patients, previous foot ulceration in 39 (44%) patients, and active
ulceration was present in 11 (13%) patients. All patients were
provided with three pairs of specially designed socks and 80
patients with extra-depth shoes. Evaluation and foot examination
were performed at 3 and 6 mo. RESULTS--Socks were worn for a mean
of 6 days/wk (range 1-7 days/wk). Patient satisfaction evaluated
at both visits was good or very good in 85%, average in 12%, and
poor in 3% of patients. Ten ulcers healed during this period, and
seven new ulcers occurred. Intention to continue wearing the
socks, most or all of the time, was expressed by 84% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS--We conclude that the experimental socks have a high level of
patient satisfaction when worn with suitable shoes, and may be an
acceptable and inexpensive addition to existing methods of protecting
the high-risk insensitive diabetic foot. |
