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Research Article| Volume 41, ISSUE 6, P359-364, November 2002

Biomechanical abnormalities and ulcers of the great toe in patients with diabetes

  • Author Footnotes
    1 Residency Director, Health Partners Institute for Medical Education/Regions Hospital, Chief of Podiatry Service, Department of Surgery, Regions Hospital, St Paul, MN.
    Troy J. Boffeli
    Correspondence
    Address correspondence to: Troy J. Boffeli, DPM, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101.
    Footnotes
    1 Residency Director, Health Partners Institute for Medical Education/Regions Hospital, Chief of Podiatry Service, Department of Surgery, Regions Hospital, St Paul, MN.
    Affiliations
    From the Department of Surgery, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN.
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  • Author Footnotes
    2 Submitted while a 3rd-year resident.
    Jeffrey K. Bean
    Footnotes
    2 Submitted while a 3rd-year resident.
    Affiliations
    From the Department of Surgery, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN.
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  • James R. Natwick
    Affiliations
    From the Department of Surgery, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN.
    Search for articles by this author
  • Author Footnotes
    1 Residency Director, Health Partners Institute for Medical Education/Regions Hospital, Chief of Podiatry Service, Department of Surgery, Regions Hospital, St Paul, MN.
    2 Submitted while a 3rd-year resident.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1067-2516(02)80081-3
Biomechanical abnormalities and ulcers of the great toe in patients with diabetes
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      A prospective analysis was conducted to identify structural and biomechanical first ray abnormalities in consecutive diabetic patients presenting with their first great toe ulcer. Twenty-six patients (33 feet) met the inclusion criteria, with seven patients having bilateral hallux ulcers. There was no other history of ulcer, trauma, or surgery on the respective limb. Data were obtained during the patients' initial presentation with a great toe ulcer and included verbal history, standardized weightbearing radiographs, and standardized objective clinical measurements. Four patients (four feet) with subungual ulcers were included because of mechanical etiology. Twenty-four of the remaining 29 involved limbs exhibited gastrocnemius/soleus equinus and two other limbs had gastrocnemius equinus. Twenty-eight of 29 had structural hallux limitus. Twenty-four had hallux interphalangeal abductus. Twenty of the 33 ulcers were located plantar-medially at the interphalangeal joint area. Other frequent findings were first ray elevatus or dorsi flexion deformity (18 of 29), functional hallux limitus (14 of 29), interphalangeal joint sesamoid bone (13 of 29), hyperextended interphalangeal joint (13 of 29), and a prominent plantar-medial condyle of the proximal aspect of the distal phalanx (7 of 29). Hallux malleus was less common (4 of 29), but consistently associated with plantar-distal tip ulceration. Metatarsus primus adductus was also infrequent (6 of 29). This study identifies and illustrates the importance of several biomechanical and structural factors present on initial presentation of great toe ulcers. Addressing these factors may improve the success of treatment and lessen the occurrence of this common and complex problem.

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      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: July 14, 2002
      Received: August 15, 2001

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1067-2516(02)80081-3

      Copyright

      © 2002 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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