title: Traditional Methods versus Quantitative Sensory Testing of the Feet at Risk: Results from the Rotterdam Diabetic Foot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy is one of the greatest risk factors for foot ulceration. The current study investigated the measurement properties of the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device in comparison with traditional threshold screening instruments, in several categories of sensory loss. Knowledge of these values may help to identify diabetics at risk for ulceration more reliably.
  
  
  METHODS
  A partially cross-sectional cohort study was carried out in patients with diabetes. Traditional instruments classified each patient into groups representing severity of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Demographic characteristics, laboratory measures, and Pressure-Specified Sensory Device measurements were compared between groups. The Bland-Altman method was used to characterize reliability of the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device, and construct validity was determined by comparison with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-five diabetic patients were measured. Fifteen patients had a diabetic ulcer in their medical history, seven patients were insensate to the 10-g monofilament and had diminished vibration sense (group 1), 34 patients had diminished vibration sense but no elevated cutaneous threshold (group 2), and 99 patients acted as controls (no elevated cutaneous threshold or diminished vibration sense, group 3). The Pressure-Specified Sensory Device distinguished these groups with one-point static cutaneous thresholds alone. Semmes-Weinstein monofilament and Pressure-Specified Sensory Device measurements were not interchangeable. Spatial discrimination (two-point static and two-point moving discrimination) by the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device was more reliable compared with one-point static discrimination. Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (force in grams and pressure in grams per square millimeter) correlations with Pressure-Specified Sensory Device measurements differed between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Pressure-Specified Sensory Device is able to distinguish between categories of sensory loss. The Pressure-Specified Sensory Device is valid in measuring cutaneous thresholds and can reliably measure spatial discrimination at the feet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic, II.
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands.|From the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center; the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, and the Department of Internal Medicine/Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis; and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Willem D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Rinkel
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands.|From the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center; the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, and the Department of Internal Medicine/Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis; and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro Cabezas
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands.|From the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center; the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, and the Department of Internal Medicine/Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis; and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Setyo
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands.|From the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center; the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, and the Department of Internal Medicine/Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis; and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Van Neck
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands.|From the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center; the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, and the Department of Internal Medicine/Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis; and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center.
authors.forename: J Henk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Coert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*