Primary Care Reports – March 1, 2017
March 1, 2017
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Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathy in the Diabetic Foot
Among the many types of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common in the U.S. population. Despite the cause, its progression leads to loss of protective sensation, skin ulcerations, and chronic wounds, which in turn cause soft tissue and bone infections requiring amputation. All of these scenarios depend on the type of glycemic control of the patient, and vary by severity. Prevention, ultimately by understanding the pathophysiology of neuropathy and understanding the biomechanics of gait in relation to the foot, has been proven to significantly decrease morbidity with this disease.