Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcers have a devastating impact on an individual's health‐related quality of life and functional status. Additionally, diabetic foot ulcers impose a significant economic burden on our health care systems as a result of complications such as infection, hospital...

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Main Authors: Sarah M. Dallimore, Michelle R. Kaminski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-015-0085-6
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author Sarah M. Dallimore
Michelle R. Kaminski
author_facet Sarah M. Dallimore
Michelle R. Kaminski
author_sort Sarah M. Dallimore
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcers have a devastating impact on an individual's health‐related quality of life and functional status. Additionally, diabetic foot ulcers impose a significant economic burden on our health care systems as a result of complications such as infection, hospitalisation and amputation. The current gold standard treatment for diabetic foot ulcers is total contact casting. However, the rate of ulcer recurrence is high, indicating the need for more effective long‐term treatment options. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically identify, critique and evaluate all literature investigating the effectiveness of Achilles tendon lengthening, gastrocnemius recession and selective plantar fascia release in healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers. Review Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library from the earliest available date to November 2014. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Data from randomised‐controlled trials were analysed using random effects meta‐analysis. For all other studies, data were analysed descriptively. Eleven studies (614 participants) were included in the review, with a median sample size of 29 participants. Meta‐analysis of two randomised‐controlled trials found that there was no statistically significant difference between Achilles tendon lengthening or gastrocnemius recession and total contact casting for time to healing of diabetic foot ulcers (mean difference, MD, 8.22 days; 95 % CI, −18.99 to 35.43; P = 0.55; I2 = 34 %) and the rate of ulcers healed (risk ratio, RR, 1.06; 95 % CI, 0.94 to 1.20; P = 0.34; I2 = 41 %). The rate of ulcer recurrence was significantly lower following Achilles tendon lengthening or gastrocnemius recession than total contact casting (RR, 0.45; 95 % CI, 0.28 to 0.72; P < 0.001; I2 = 0 %). Conclusions Achilles tendon lengthening and gastrocnemius recession appear to be effective surgical treatments for healing diabetic foot ulcers. The rate of ulcer recurrence was lower following Achilles tendon lengthening or gastrocnemius recession procedures compared to total contact casting treatment alone. Therefore, these surgical procedures may provide viable treatment options for the management and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers. Further rigorous randomised‐controlled trials with longer follow‐up are required to determine the long‐term effectiveness and safety of these procedures.
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spelling doaj.art-d27ab8f532584b84b60c972226bfa7bf2024-02-07T14:57:49ZengWileyJournal of Foot and Ankle Research1757-11462015-01-0181n/an/a10.1186/s13047-015-0085-6Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysisSarah M. Dallimore0Michelle R. Kaminski1Eastern Health Podiatry DepartmentMaroondah HospitalDavey Drive3135Ringwood EastVICAustraliaEastern Health Podiatry DepartmentAngliss HospitalAlbert Street3156Upper Ferntree GullyVICAustraliaAbstract Background Diabetic foot ulcers have a devastating impact on an individual's health‐related quality of life and functional status. Additionally, diabetic foot ulcers impose a significant economic burden on our health care systems as a result of complications such as infection, hospitalisation and amputation. The current gold standard treatment for diabetic foot ulcers is total contact casting. However, the rate of ulcer recurrence is high, indicating the need for more effective long‐term treatment options. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically identify, critique and evaluate all literature investigating the effectiveness of Achilles tendon lengthening, gastrocnemius recession and selective plantar fascia release in healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers. Review Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library from the earliest available date to November 2014. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Data from randomised‐controlled trials were analysed using random effects meta‐analysis. For all other studies, data were analysed descriptively. Eleven studies (614 participants) were included in the review, with a median sample size of 29 participants. Meta‐analysis of two randomised‐controlled trials found that there was no statistically significant difference between Achilles tendon lengthening or gastrocnemius recession and total contact casting for time to healing of diabetic foot ulcers (mean difference, MD, 8.22 days; 95 % CI, −18.99 to 35.43; P = 0.55; I2 = 34 %) and the rate of ulcers healed (risk ratio, RR, 1.06; 95 % CI, 0.94 to 1.20; P = 0.34; I2 = 41 %). The rate of ulcer recurrence was significantly lower following Achilles tendon lengthening or gastrocnemius recession than total contact casting (RR, 0.45; 95 % CI, 0.28 to 0.72; P < 0.001; I2 = 0 %). Conclusions Achilles tendon lengthening and gastrocnemius recession appear to be effective surgical treatments for healing diabetic foot ulcers. The rate of ulcer recurrence was lower following Achilles tendon lengthening or gastrocnemius recession procedures compared to total contact casting treatment alone. Therefore, these surgical procedures may provide viable treatment options for the management and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers. Further rigorous randomised‐controlled trials with longer follow‐up are required to determine the long‐term effectiveness and safety of these procedures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-015-0085-6Achilles tendon lengtheningDiabetic foot ulcerGastrocnemius recessionPlantar fascia release
spellingShingle Sarah M. Dallimore
Michelle R. Kaminski
Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Achilles tendon lengthening
Diabetic foot ulcer
Gastrocnemius recession
Plantar fascia release
title Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
title_full Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
title_fullStr Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
title_full_unstemmed Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
title_short Tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
title_sort tendon lengthening and fascia release for healing and preventing diabetic foot ulcers a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Achilles tendon lengthening
Diabetic foot ulcer
Gastrocnemius recession
Plantar fascia release
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-015-0085-6
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