By Brian McCurdy, Senior Editor

   Given that osteomyelitis can have serious consequences in the diabetic foot, a recently published study online in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice identifies several risk factors that may facilitate earlier diagnosis of bone infection.

   Researchers studied 1,666 patients with diabetes from two large primary care facilities in south Texas. They defined osteomyelitis as a positive culture from a bone specimen. Over a mean follow-up period of 27.2 months, 151 patients developed foot infections and 30 of these p

   An 85-year-old Caucasian male presents with a heel ulcer after spending eight weeks in a rehabiltation home following hip replacement surgery. He presently spends much of his time in a lounge chair or in a wheelchair. He has a history of angina, arthritis, aortic valve replacement, prostate cancer with radiation treatment and Parkinson’s disease. He is taking carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemat, Merck), ropinirole (Requip, GlaxoSmithKline) and warfarin (Coumadin, Bristol-Myers Squibb). He is allergic to sulfa.

   The patient initially underwent a workup and a debr

   As the winter season continues, physicians need to become more aware of snowboarding injuries. The number of ankle injuries continues to rise and, in particular, lateral talar process (LTP) fractures seem to be occurring more frequently within the snowboarding population.

   Kirkpatrick, et al., conducted a prospective study of 3,213 snowboarding injuries that occurred at 12 Colorado ski resorts between 1988 and 1995.¹ These injuries consisted of 15.3 percent injuries to the ankle and 1.8 percent injuries to the foot. In regard to the ankle injur

   Change versus experience. It is a theme that was on the forefront of many people’s minds late last year. Now, in the podiatric community, this theme of change lives on with surgical affiliations.
   The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has recently announced the formation of its new affiliate, the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, Inc. (ASPS). Meanwhile, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ACFAS) continues on without the requirement of APMA membership for renewing members.

   The ASPS represents change while