Siam Tongprasert

Reducing Lower Extremity Amputations Due to Diabetes: The Application of Diabetic-Foot Protocol in Chiang Mai University Hospital

The aim of this study was to determine whether intensive treatment and education strategies for diabetic patients with ulcers help in preventing leg amputation. From August 2005 to March 2007, a diabetic-foot protocol using a multidisciplinary approach was applied at our hospital. All the subjects were educated regarding diabetic-foot disease and its complications and prevention. This report compares the amputation rate in patients receiving the protocol care from August 2005 to March 2007 with those who had standard care from August 2003 to July 2005. Seventy-three and 110 diabetic-foot ulcer patients received protocol and standard foot care, respectively. The incidence of major amputations in the protocol and standard care groups was 4.1% and 13.6%, respectively (P = .03). Our protocol was associated with improved diabetic-foot care outcomes. It can be used by any hospital to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes.

A Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Protocol at Chiang Mai University Hospital: Cost and Quality of Life

The consensus is that a multidisciplinary approach for patients with diabetic foot ulcer is effective in reducing the number of leg amputations. Concern remains, however, about cost and health-related quality of life issues. From August 2005 to March 2007, a multidisciplinary diabetic foot protocol (DFP) was used at the authors’ teaching hospital.There were devices to reduce pressure on the foot.After healing, there were custom-fabricated orthoses and footwear, and monitoring of progress in ambulation. All subjects were educated about diabetic foot disease and its complications and prevention.They were also instructed to call and visit the hospital if there were any signs of new lesions.This study compared responses to the short form 36 questionnaires (SF-36) about health-related quality of life and the cost of medical care for patients receiving DFP care from August 2005 to March 2007 and those who had standard care from August 2003 to July 2005.There were 56 and 40 diabetic foot ulcer patients on DFP and standard care packages, respectively. Their gender distribution and mean age were similar. The average total cost of DFP patients was significantly lower than that for standard care patients (

The cross-cultural adaptation of the DASH questionnaire in Thai (DASH-TH)

1127.02 and

Diabetic Foot Problems in Tertiary Care Diabetic Clinic in Thailand

1824.58, respectively, P = .02). DFP patients had significantly higher scores on the SF-36 for both the physical and mental health dimensions than standard care patients. It was concluded that DFP was less expensive and gave patients a better quality of life, compared to standard care. On the basis of this finding, DFP should be used by every hospital to improve outcomes for patients with diabetic foot ulcer.

Multiple Neuromas Cause Painful "Jumping Stump" in a Transfemoral Amputee: A Case Report.

STUDY DESIGN Clinical measurement. INTRODUCTION Currently there are no self-report questionnaires in Thai to evaluate disability levels in patients suffering from upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To translate and cross-cultural adaptation the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire to Thai version and to evaluate content validity, construct validity and internal consistency of the questionnaire. METHODS The DASH-TH was produced by following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines stated by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH). Forty Thai patients with arm, shoulder or hand problems participated in field testing of the questionnaire. Content validity was determined by obtaining the item-objective congruence (IOC) value for each questionnaire item. Correlation between the DASH-TH score and numeric rating scale was used to assess construct validity. Internal consistency of DASH-TH was measured using Cronbachs alpha coefficient. RESULTS Forty patients (14 males, 26 females) with arm, shoulder or hand problems enrolled in the present study. The average age of patients was 44.8 years. The index of item-objective congruence (IOC) of each item ranged from 0.7 to 1.0. The Cronbachs alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.938. There was no correlation between DASH-TH score and numeric rating scale. CONCLUSION The DASH-TH has high content validity and internal consistency. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.

The Development and Application of Diabetic Foot Protocol in Chiang Mai University Hospital With an Aim to Reduce Lower Extremity Amputation in Thai Population: A Preliminary Communication

Foot problems in patients with diabetes cause substantial morbidity and may lead to lower extremity amputations. These risks may be reduced by appropriate screening and intervention measures. Effective screening assigns the patient to a risk category and dictates both the type and frequency of appropriate foot interventions. Less than half of diabetic patients in tertiary care hospital in Thailand received annual foot examination and there are limited data available on the nature of foot problems in such setting. This study reported a cross-sectional data of 438 diabetic patients attend tertiary diabetic clinic in the university hospital in Northern Thailand. Neuropathy manifestations as skin dryness, limitation of joint mobility and insensate to monofilament was the most common manifestation of diabetic foot problems in this setting. Most patients were not protected by proper footwear. More effort is needed to educate diabetic patients about foot care and improve their choice and selection of footwear.

SEXUAL FUNCTIONS AND SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THAI MEN WITH CHRONIC SPINAL CORD INJURY

Painful “jumping stump” is an uncommon but very disturbing complication postamputation. This condition is one of the movement disorder entities resulting from peripheral nerve pathology, often known as “peripherally induced movement disorders.” Previously case reports have been written about painful and nonpainful incidence of “jumping stump”; however, only the earliest “jumping stump” article in 1852 suspected that neuromas might influence the involuntary movement. In this study, we describe a 38-year-old man with bilateral transfemoral amputee who suffered from painful “jumping stump” with multiple neuromas confirmed by imaging. He was treated successfully by ultrasound-guided phenol injection into the sciatic neuroma stalks. The pathophysiology of jumping stump and its possible association with neuroma are briefly discussed.