Development of the complex diabetic foot patient pathway (PORTH) in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

Name: Thelma Mhlanga

Abstract

The diabetic foot can be complex to treat and requires intervention from all areas of diabetic foot MDT. Over 40% of patients re-ulcerate within 1 year of their first ulcer healing. (1) This is a summary of the development of the diabetic foot pathway in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, including the development of a joint podiatrist and orthotist (PORTH) complex clinic, aimed at improving the long term outcomes of patients with diabetic foot ulcerations. The pathway focused on step-down devices and dosed return to activity. (2) 1. Armstrong D, Boulton A, Bus S. Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Their Recurrence. New England Journal of Medicine. 2017;376(24):2367-2375. 2. Dosing Activity and Return to Preulcer Function in Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcer Remission. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 2021;111(5)."