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Biomedical subjects

Greta Dereymaeker

Publications and source records attributed to Greta Dereymaeker.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Economic aspects of diabetic foot care in a multidisciplinary setting: a review.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the economic aspects of diabetic foot care in a multidisciplinary setting. METHOD: A review of the English language literature, published from 1966 to November 2005. RESULTS: The results of available studies on the cost-of-illness of diabetic foot problems are difficult to compare. Nevertheless trends concerning excess of costs, protraction in time of costs, positive correlation to severity of ulcer and/or peripheral vascular disease, contribution of in-hospital stay and length of stay, and the patient's own contribution to total costs, are obvious. Only a few cost-effectiveness and cost-utility studies are available. Most use a Markov based model to predict outcome and show an acceptable result on long-term. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic foot problems are frequent and are associated with high costs. A multidisciplinary approach to diabetic foot problems has proved to be cost saving with regard to cost of treatment itself. Nevertheless, it remained unclear if these savings could offset the overall costs involved in implementing this kind of approach. The few studies that address this issue specifically all show an acceptable cost-effectiveness, but often the profit will be evident after some years only, because long-term costs are involved. Based on these data, policymakers should foresee sufficient reimbursement for preventive and early curative measures, and not only for 'salvage manoeuvres'.

Cost of Illness↗

Biphalangeal fifth toe.

BACKGROUND: A biphalangeal fifth toe is a common variant in the European population. The frequency is higher in the Japanese population. It is considered an anatomical variant of the normal triphalangeal fifth toe. METHODS: Patients divided into three study groups were retrospectively reviewed to determine the effect of a biphalangeal fifth toe on the occurrence of clinically symptomatic pathology of the fifth ray. RESULTS: The prevalence of a biphalangeal fifth toe in patients with hammer or claw toes was 65%, bunionettes 47%, and overriding fifth toe 37%. Only for the group with hammer or claw toes was prevalence significantly higher than that in the control group (39%). CONCLUSION: The stiffness and rigidity of the biphalangeal fifth toe may predispose it for symptomatic hammer or claw toe.

Adolescent↗

The HINTEGRA ankle: rationale and short-term results of 122 consecutive ankles.

The HINTEGRA ankle was developed as an attempt to specifically address the needs of minimal bone resection, extended bone support, proper ligament balancing, and minimal contact stresses within and around the prosthesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term results in a consecutive series of 116 patients (122 ankles). Preoperative diagnoses were posttraumatic osteoarthrosis in 91 ankles (75%), primary osteoarthrosis in 16 ankles (13%), and systemic arthritis in 15 ankles (12%). Eight ankles had to be revised. Four were revised because of loosening of at least one component; one because of dislocation of the meniscus; and three for other reasons. All revisions were successful. After an average of 18.9 months (range, 1-3 years), 84% of patients were satisfied, and the clinical result was rated as good or excellent in 82% of the cases. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot score improved from 40 points preoperatively to 85 points at followup. Eighty-three ankles (68%) were completely pain-free. The average range of motion clinically was 39 degrees (range, 15 degrees-55 degrees) and under fluoroscopy (true ankle motion) it was 37 degrees (range, 7 degrees-62 degrees). Radiographically, the tibial component was stable in all ankles, and no tilting of the component occurred since surgery. However, migration of the talar component was observed in two ankles. The concept of minimal bone resection and wide bony support was shown to be successful on the tibial and talar sides. Obtained function, pain relief, and patient satisfaction were promising and, compared with other devices, the results mostly were superior. This may support the idea that anatomic-shaped surfaces, as is the case in the HINTEGRA ankle, may be successful in total ankle replacement.

Adult↗

Outcome and recurrence rate of diabetic foot ulcers treated by a total contact cast: short-term follow-up.

Foot ulcers in patients with diabetes present an increasing burden to healthcare. Total contact cast (TCC) is a well established treatment option for many of these ulcers, but little seems to be known about the final outcome once healing has been reached. The study examined healing and final outcome after TCC treatment among patients with diabetes. During a 22-month period, 15 consecutive patients with a total of 17 ulcers started treatment with a TCC. Three patients (three ulcers) were lost to follow-up (FU). Average FU was 91 weeks. The patients were followed with emphasis on healing, complications during FU, footwear, compliance, and frequency of visits. All ulcers healed, some after additional surgery. During FU, control visits were performed at an average of one visit every 4.7 weeks. Notwithstanding this, a high frequency of ulcer recurrence and/or other complications was noticed. Only four patients out of 12 remained without any new (ulcer) problem during FU. TCC proved to be a very efficient tool to heal neuropathic foot ulcers, but the recurrence rate and frequency of other complications remained very high. These data show how difficult it is to achieve reliable (secondary) preventive general foot care, and to prescribe and manufacture reliable footwear.

Adult↗

Severe Lisfrancs injuries: primary arthrodesis or ORIF?

Twenty-eight patients, with severe, acute Lisfranc dislocations, requiring operative intervention, were treated between 1989 and 1992 in a level one Trauma Center. Different treatment protocols were used by the two senior staff surgeons. This allowed ORIF to be compared to complete arthrodesis and partial arthrodesis. Twelve patients were treated with primary arthrodesis after open reduction of the dislocation. Partial (5) or complete arthrodesis (6) (depending on the type of fracture) was performed in these 12 patients. Sixteen patients were treated with open reduction and temporary fixation with stabilization and compression screw fixation (ORIF group). The subgroups were identical in age (mean 30.5 years), follow-up (30.1 months), type of fracture, type of injury and time to intervention. Anatomical reduction was achieved in eight of the 12 patients in the arthrodesis groups and in 12 of the 16 patients in the ORIF group. The Baltimore Painful foot Score (PFS) was higher in the ORIF group then in the complete arthrodesis group meaning the ORIF group had less pain. No difference in the PFS was found between the ORIF group and the partial arthrodesis group. Subsequent revision surgery was necessary in two cases in the arthrodesis groups and two cases in the ORIF group. Stiffness of the forefoot, loss of metatarsal arch, and sympathetic dystrophy occurred more frequently in the complete arthrodesis group. Open reduction and internal fixation with screws or partial arthrodesis is the treatment of choice in severe tarsometatarsal fracture dislocations. Primary complete arthrodesis should be reserved as a salvage procedure.

Acute Disease↗