A study found altered plantar foot temperature in participants with unilateral transtibial amputations and type 2 diabetes compared to those with type 2 diabetes and no amputations, which the researchers say suggests a possible reason for the high rates of contralateral limb ulceration and amputation among this population.
Sixteen participants with type 2 diabetes and transtibial amputations, and 16 age- and sex-matched participants with type 2 diabetes without amputations were recruited. Researchers measured foot temperatures during resting, walking, and cooldown periods. Peak temperature, mean temperature, and rate of temperature change were analyzed for each period, and compared between cohorts.
The participants with amputations exhibited increased mean foot temperature while at rest and during walking, according to the study. Participants without amputation exhibited increased rate of change of foot temperature during walking. No differences in peak temperature or rate of temperature change were observed during the baseline or cooldown periods.
The study, “A walking bout reveals altered foot thermodynamics associated with unilateral transtibial amputation among individuals with type 2 diabetes,” was published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
