Author: David G. Armstrong

Dedicated to amputation prevention, wound healing, diabetic foot, biotechnology and the intersection between medical devices and consumer electronics.
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A Free, Comprehensive Limb Preservation Owner’s Manual For Patients (and their docs) From @NealBarshes @BCM_Surgery – in 10 Languages

We can’t say enough about the great and good works of our SALSAmigo, Neil Barshes, the pride of Houston. On his github page, he has published what amounts to a soup-to-nuts owners manual for patients and their clinicians interested in limb preservation. Here it is, reprinted: As an academic vascular surgeon, I work to develop […]

Read More A Free, Comprehensive Limb Preservation Owner’s Manual For Patients (and their docs) From @NealBarshes @BCM_Surgery – in 10 Languages

Cohort study evaluating the burden of wounds to the UK’s National Health Service in 2017/2018: update from 2012/2013 Hint: a 71% increase! @DiabetesRC

There were at least 3.8 million wounds managed in the UK’s NHS in 2017-2018– an amazing 7% of the adult population. This constitutes a massive 71% increase from the last review in 2014. Here is the abstract from Guest, Fuller and Vowden. Here is the full-text. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of wounds managed by […]

Read More Cohort study evaluating the burden of wounds to the UK’s National Health Service in 2017/2018: update from 2012/2013 Hint: a 71% increase! @DiabetesRC

Teleoperation of an ankle-foot prosthesis with a wrist exoskeleton

Well this is simply a cool idea. Well done to Welker and coworkers. Abstract:Objective: We aimed to develop a system for people with amputation that non-invasively restores missing control and sensory information for an ankle-foot prosthesis. Methods: In our approach, a wrist exoskeleton allows people with amputation to control and receive feedback from their prosthetic […]

Read More Teleoperation of an ankle-foot prosthesis with a wrist exoskeleton

Pharmacotherapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers- Topical and Systemic

A superb technical review from our SALSAmigos Dixon and Edmonds from King’s. Historically, there has been a scarcity of evidence-based topical therapy to hasten the healing of diabetic foot ulcers. But recently new evidence-based treatments have emerged from multicentre, randomised, controlled trials. This article highlights those trials, and describes the current pharmacological management of the […]

Read More Pharmacotherapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers- Topical and Systemic

Poor sleep and hypoxemia may be associated with longer wound healing and more frequent ulcer recurrence in remission

Fascinating work from Chen and coworkers. Perhaps something else we need to focus on that we often acknowledge but frequently neglect! STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent and associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. However, whether SDB has an adverse impact on wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is […]

Read More Poor sleep and hypoxemia may be associated with longer wound healing and more frequent ulcer recurrence in remission

SPECT-CT in the early diagnosis of Charcot arthropathy

More strong and practical work from our colleagues at King’s… The Role of Bone Scintigraphy with SPECT/CT in the Characterization and Early Diagnosis of Stage 0 Charcot Neuroarthropathy Abstract: We describe the use of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) in the investigation and diagnosis of Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) in patients with a hot […]

Read More SPECT-CT in the early diagnosis of Charcot arthropathy

Exoskeletons as a service? What’s next is what’s now!

We’ve long pondered when this day would arrive…well here we are! read the link below from Tech Republic. Thanks to our SALSAmigo, David Klonoff, president and founder of the Diabetes Technology Society, for sending this over! Robotics-as-a-Service: Exoskeleton manufacturer receives $20 million in funding

Read More Exoskeletons as a service? What’s next is what’s now!

Outcomes after Emergency Admission with a Diabetic Foot Attack Indicate a High Rate of Healing and Limb Salvage But Increased Mortality

Timely work from our SALSAmigos at King’s. Aim The diabetic foot attack (DFA) is perhaps the most devastating form of diabetic foot infection, presenting with rapidly progressive skin and tissue necrosis, threatening both limb and life. However, clinical outcome data in this specific group of patients are not available. Methods Analysis of 106 consecutive patients who underwent emergency hospitalisation […]

Read More Outcomes after Emergency Admission with a Diabetic Foot Attack Indicate a High Rate of Healing and Limb Salvage But Increased Mortality

Genetic Polymorphisms and the Risk of Diabetic Foot: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Up-to-date data on polymorphisms in the diabetic foot in this meta-analysis from Zhao and coworkers. Background Diabetic foot (DF) is a dangerous complication of diabetes. The aim of the study was to synthesize all the published single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DF to objectively evaluate the relationship of SNPs and DF risks. Methods The HuGE […]

Read More Genetic Polymorphisms and the Risk of Diabetic Foot: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Effect of Mini-invasive Floating Metatarsal Osteotomy on Plantar Pressure in Patients With Diabetic Plantar Metatarsal Head Ulcers

This from Tamir and coworkers from Tel Aviv on the floating metatarsal head osteotomy. Background: Distal metatarsal osteotomy has been used to alleviate plantar pressure caused by anatomic deformities. This study’s purpose was to examine the effect of minimally invasive floating metatarsal osteotomy on plantar pressure in patients with diabetic metatarsal head ulcers.Methods: We performed […]

Read More Effect of Mini-invasive Floating Metatarsal Osteotomy on Plantar Pressure in Patients With Diabetic Plantar Metatarsal Head Ulcers