2019 Volume 17 Issue 4 Pages 181-185
The guidelines published by the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot in 2015 recommend digital flexor tenotomy to prevent foot ulcers and calluses involving deformities. However, there have been few reports on the surgical procedure in Japan. We report changes in walking ability and the load on the plantar surface of the diabetic foot after digital flexor tenotomy for recurrence prevention. Five postoperative patients walked barefoot on the foot pressure measurement system with a sheet sensor Walk Way MW-1000 (Anima Inc.) to measure their gait patterns. Their walking speeds, step lengths, and walking-related FIM scores did not significantly change after surgery, and the plantar surface of their diabetic foot was offloaded by 22% on average. As digital flexor tenotomy is a minimally invasive procedure that enables early loading rehabilitation, it may be effective to maintain the walking ability and offload the plantar surface.
