Abstract
Although the effect of lower extremity pathology and surgical intervention on automobile
driving function has been a topic of contemporary interest, we are unaware of any
analysis of the effect of lower extremity diabetic sensorimotor neuropathy on driving
performance. The objective of the present case-control investigation was to assess
the mean brake response time in diabetic drivers with lower extremity neuropathy compared
with that of a control group and a brake response safety threshold. The driving performances
of participants were evaluated using a computerized driving simulator with specific
measurement of the mean brake response time and frequency of abnormally delayed brake
responses. We analyzed a control group of 25 active drivers with neither diabetes
nor lower extremity neuropathy and an experimental group of 25 active drivers with
type 2 diabetes and lower extremity neuropathy. The experimental group demonstrated
a 37.89% slower mean brake response time (0.757 ± 0.180 versus 0.549 ± 0.076 second;
p < .001), with abnormally delayed responses occurring at a greater frequency (57.5%
versus 3.5%; p < .001). Independent of a comparative statistical analysis, the observed mean brake
response time in the experimental group was slower than the reported safety brake
response threshold of 0.70 second. The results of the present investigation provide
original data with respect to abnormally delayed brake responses in diabetic patients
with lower extremity neuropathy and might raise the potential for impaired driving
function in this population.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
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© 2017 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved.
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- Letter to the EditorThe Journal of Foot and Ankle SurgeryVol. 59Issue 2
- PreviewWe have read the article entitled “Diabetic Driving Studies—Part 1: Brake Response Time in Diabetic Drivers With Lower Extremity Neuropathy” (JFAS 56:568–572, 2017) published in the May/June issue of your Journal with outmost interest because it has presented the data from a valuable and important study in an attempt to find an answer to a substantial question.
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