Achilles tendon and plantar soft tissues changes in diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Elastography and ultrasound of the Achilles tendon and plantar soft tissues in diabetes
IRAS ID
271358
Contact name
Benedictine Khor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Glasgow Caledonian University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Diabetic foot disease remains one of the costliest complications of diabetes, with sequalae of complications often ensuing form a ‘foot ulcer’ or wound. Diabetic foot disease often occurs against a backdrop of circulatory problems and nerve damage. In practical terms, this means people with diabetes may be unaware of trauma to their feet, and when ‘ulcerations’ or wounds occur, healing is often slow and difficult due to a poor blood supply. To place the consequences of this debilitating complication in perspective, over 80% of lower limb amputations are preceded by a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer.
At present, we do not fully understand why some people with diabetes get foot wounds while others do not. We also do not understand why approximately 40% of people develop another foot ulcer within a year after healing of a diabetic foot wound. What we do know is this results from a combination of internal and external factors. In particular, the disease process of diabetes can affect tendons and soft tissues thus compromising their function, making the foot more vulnerable to injury from external mechanical stresses. The proposed study will examine this specific internal and external change in people with diabetes. Specifically, this project aims to clarify the relationship between soft tissue properties and foot function in their combined contribution towards ulceration risk.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0517
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion