The MABAL shoe, an alternative method in contact casting for the treatment of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.
BACKGROUND
Total Contact Casting (TCC) is considered the gold standard in the treatment of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. To overcome some disadvantages of TCC we developed a removable fiberglass combicast shoe--the MABAL shoe.


METHODS
The MABAL shoe was used to treat 23 plantar ulcers.


RESULTS
Before treatment the mean surface area was 2.0 cm2 (0.5-7.1 cm2). Twenty-one of 23 ulcers healed, with a mean healing time of 34 days (7-75 days).


CONCLUSIONS
The MABAL shoe provides healing of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers comparable to existing methods of treatment, while offering some potential advantages. The main advantages are mobilization of the ankle, removability of the cast and a less time consuming form of treatment.
Hissink
R J
RJ
Department of Surgery, Twenteborg Hospital, Almelo, The Netherlands. his.luyen@wxs.nl
Manning
H A
HA
van Baal
J G
JG
D000269:Adhesives; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001458:Bandages; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012775:Shoes; D013997:Time Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing
D000269:Adhesives; C009753:fiberglass