Podiatry Today Current Issue

Key Insights On Nerve Testing

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:10:09 -0400

Are peripheral nerve pathologies the root cause of a patient’s lower extremity pain? These authors discuss entrapment neuropathies, large fiber neuropathy and lumbosacral radiculopathy, among other conditions, and share their insights on helpful diagnostic tools.

In the podiatric profession, we are frequently faced with chronic painful musculoskeletal processes that get labeled as arthritis, chronic plantar fasciitis, neuroma, etc. Perhaps it would behoove us to start thinking of an underlying neurological pathology that may be responsible for foot or ankle pain.

In the senior

DIGITAL THERMOMETRY: Can It Have An Impact?

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:27:15 -0400

Assessing skin temperatures in the diabetic foot can help identify patients at a high risk for various complications. Accordingly, this author shares insights from the research on the possible advantages of using digital thermometry as a self-assessment tool to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers.

Preventing foot ulceration and re-ulceration in high-risk patients with diabetes is a challenge. Clinical outcomes are much better when high-risk patients receive proper foot care, education and protective shoes. There is a growing body of work which demonstrates that programs aimed at treatm

How To Treat Overuse Injuries In Athletes

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:43:44 -0400

Given the frequency with which overuse injuries occur in athletic patients, this author offers insights and pearls on treating common injuries ranging from posterior tibial tendon injuries and tibialis anterior tendinitis to peroneal tendon injuries and Achilles tendon injuries.

Approximately 50 percent of all sports injuries are secondary to overuse.1 Overuse injuries result from repetitive microtrauma that leads to local tissue damage in the form of cellular and extracellular degeneration. Injury is most likely to occur when an athlete changes the intensity or length of training. This has

Current Insights On Growth Factor Therapy

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:51:56 -0400

Recent advances with growth factor therapy have created more possibilities for wound care. These authors review currently available modalities and emerging treatments, and survey the literature on the effectiveness of growth factor therapy for chronic wounds.

The future of growth factor therapy in wound care is advancing rapidly. There is also increasing evidence in the literature to support the efficacy of growth factors in wounds, particularly chronic wounds, and how they can help facilitate desired healing outcomes. With advances in research over the past decades, physicians and r

Inside Secrets For Maximizing Reimbursement

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:50:40 -0400

Maximizing practice reimbursement is an ongoing challenge on a road full of significant obstacles. Accordingly, these authors suggest a new approach to improving internal processes that can simultaneously improve compliance and bolster incoming revenue.

When one speaks of maximizing medical practice reimbursement, most physicians immediately think of the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) or coding-oriented consultants. However, bolstering reimbursement involves more than just using the newest Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) codes, parsing old codes or even becoming a C

News & Trends

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:17:42 -0400

Do Trauma Patients With Diabetes Face Higher Complication Rates?

Patients with diabetes face a higher risk of complications in a number of areas. A large study recently published in the Archives of Surgery notes that those with diabetes also face more complications from trauma surgery.

From 1984 to 2002, researchers examined 12,489 patients with diabetes, matching their ages, sex and injury severity with 12,489 non-diabetic patients from 27 Pennsylvania trauma centers. The study concluded that patients with diabetes spent more time in the intensive care unit and received venti

Can Daptomycin Have An Impact With Skin And Skin Structure Infections?

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:36:59 -0400

Podiatrists commonly encounter and treat skin and skin-structure infections (SSSIs), ranging from cellulitis to more complicated surgical site infections and infected diabetic foot ulcers. Aerobic gram-positive cocci, such as Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci, are the most common causative agents of skin infections.1

While the treatment of simple and superficial infections is relatively straightforward with brief courses of oral antibiotics, many skin infections of the foot are complicated by diabetes.1,2 Foot ulceration, usually secondary to peripheral neuropathy or peripheral vascul

Treating A Pigmented, Slightly Pruritic Nodule

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:42:34 -0400

A 37-year-old Caucasian male presents with a chief complaint of a nodular growth on the left calf. He first noticed the bump about two months ago but says he did not think too much about it until recently. At that time, he noticed it was causing mild discomfort when he touched it but the growth was only slightly pruritic. The lesion did not appear to be infected and it did not drain or bleed at any time. He says he checked the rest of his body for any similar looking lesions and found none. Otherwise, he has no other complaints or concerns.

The patient has not changed his diet or eating hab

How To Address Conditions That Affect Pediatric Gait

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:47:58 -0400

Given that toe walking and other gait disturbances are common among children, these expert panelists take a closer look at these conditions, offer keys to the diagnostic assessment and share their insights on appropriate treatment modalities and physical therapy regimens.

Q: What is your treatment plan for children with diplegia and hemiplegia?

A: Mary Keen, MD, says most children with diplegia and hemiplegia walk so she strives to facilitate independent ambulation. In order to achieve safe, efficient ambulation, Dr. Keen says children need adequate balance, adequate core s

Four Essential Keys To Athletic Shoe Fit

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:54:18 -0400

For professional athletes and weekend warriors alike, having the right shoe and the correct fit can mean the difference between participating and sitting on the sidelines. Since most podiatrists now fit shoes in their offices, it is imperative that they develop a true expertise in this critical aspect of foot care, particularly with respect to the special needs of athletes. Providing proper shoe fit and selection for active individuals holds great potential for both injury prevention and for practice expansion.

When podiatrists themselves fit patients with athletic shoes, it fills a void in