title: Outpatient assessment and management of the diabetic foot.
abstract: Patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy are at risk for foot deformities and mechanical imbalance of the lower extremity. Peripheral neuropathy leads to an insensate foot that puts the patient at risk for injury. When combined with deformity due to neuropathic arthropathy, or Charcot foot, the risks of impending ulceration, infection, and amputation are significant to the diabetic patient. Education of proper foot care and shoe wear cannot be overemphasized. For those with significant malalignment or deformity of the foot and ankle, referral should be made immediately to an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, Capital Region Orthopaedics, 1367 Washington Avenue, Suite 200, Albany, NY 12206, USA. Electronic address: jamddipreta@netscape.net.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: DiPreta
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000842:Ankle / Q000473:pathology; D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005531:Foot Deformities, Acquired / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Charcot arthropathy; Diabetes mellitus; Peripheral neuropathy; Ulceration