A cross sectional pilot study utilising STrain Analysis and Mapping of the Plantar Surface (STAMPS) to measure plantar load characteristics within a healthy population.

Background: No in-shoe systems, measuring both components of plantar load (plantar pressure and shear stress) are available for use in patients with diabetes. The STAMPS (STrain Analysis and Mapping of the Plantar Surface) system utilises digital image correlation (DIC) to determine the strain sustained by a deformable insole, providing a more complete understanding of plantar shear load at the foot-surface interface.

Research Questions: What is the normal range and pattern of strain at the foot-surface interface within a healthy population as measured by the STAMPS system? Is STAMPS a valid tool to measure the effects of plantar load?

Methods: A cross-sectional study of healthy participants was undertaken.

STrain Analysis and Mapping of the Plantar Surface (STAMPS): A novel technique of plantar load analysis during gait.

Diabetic foot ulceration is driven by peripheral neuropathy, resulting in abnormal foot biomechanics and elevated plantar load. Plantar load comprises normal pressure and tangential shear stress. Currently, there are no in-shoe devices measuring both components of plantar load.

Plantar shear stress in the diabetic foot: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is a multifactorial process involving undetected, repetitive trauma resulting in inflammation and tissue breakdown. Shear stress forms a major part of plantar load, the aim of this review is to determine whether elevated shear stress results in ulceration.

Methods: A systematic review of the Ovid Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane library databases was performed.

The Content of Pre-habilitative Interventions for Patients Undergoing Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Their Effect on Post-Operative Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Patients requiring abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair are at risk of post-operative complications due to poor pre-operative state. Pre-habilitation describes the enhancement of functional capacity and tolerance to an upcoming physiological stressor, intended to reduce those complications. The ability to provide such an intervention (physical, pharmacological, nutritional, or psychosocial) between diagnosis and surgery is a growing interest, but its role in AAA repair is unclear.

Postsplenectomy Prophylaxis: A Persistent Failure to Meet Standard?

A retrospective case review of patients that underwent emergency splenectomy or splenic preservation from May 2003 to April 2014 was undertaken at a single center. The results highlight failures in administration of postsplenectomy vaccination for emergency splenectomy patients. In this study, we highlight methods to improve postsplenectomy care.

Preoperative Very Low-Calorie Diet Reduces Technical Difficulty During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Obese Patients.

This study investigates the effectiveness of preoperative very low-calorie diet (VLCD) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A prospective observational study of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was undertaken. At the preoperative visit, all patients were advised to adhere to VLCD for 2 weeks before surgery (<800 kcal/d).

Listeria Infected Pseudoaneurysm of the Superficial Femoral Artery.

We present a unique case of listeria-infected pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral artery. Listeria monocytogenes, a gram positive, intracellular bacterium, is widespread in the environment. The manifestation of infection in humans ranges from mild gastroenteritis to life-threatening listeriosis.