Downloading plantar foot pressures in the diabetic patient.

Pressure downloading (offloading) is the most important component in the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers because peripheral neuropathy is a major contributing factor to more than 90% of all diabetic foot ulcers. Downloading techniques range from the simplest insole, through many types of orthotics and footwear modifications including the ankle-foot orthosis and total contact casting, to surgical procedures. A philosophical difference exists between surgical and nonsurgical approaches, with the patient subjected to the bias of the practitioner. This article explores uniting both surgical and nonsurgical pressure downloading techniques, using a modified Carville Classification System to help the practitioner determine the appropriate method(s) of downloading. By adding a Category 4 to include diabetic persons with foot ulcers or acute Charcot events, a seamless system is obtained to categorize and treat all people with diabetes with pressure downloading recommendations.