New innovative foot screening; the Podium Professional from Thermetrix, is set to improve podiatry patient management and treatment outcomes. The Podium is a diagnostic thermal scanning device which takes fast and accurate temperature readings of the sole of the foot. These scans can be shared with patient, filed in patient notes to record foot health. Subsequent scans can be compared, to monitor any potential areas of concern and used to facilitate appropriate treatment plan and monitor progress.
The Podium offers a more efficient method of assessing foot temperature other than by subjectively listening to a patient’s comments, direct touch or using hand held infrared thermography devices. All previous methods have room for error and difficult to record and reproduce at a later date. The Podium offers evidence based documentation which can be shown on screen and communicated to a patient. The scans can be issued in a printable PDF copy.
The temperature of the foot is important in assessing foot health and diagnosing existing and potential new problems.Temperature changes are caused by vasoconstriction and vasodilation of the skin’s blood vessels. This reflects normal function and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and local response to tissue stresses. Just a small 2 degree increase of foot temperature from normal 37°C (98,6°F) core body temperature, can indicate inflammation, infection and injury. A drop in temperature can indicate vascular insufficiency and tissue hypoxia (poor oxygen supply).
Podium temperatures are recorded in differentiating colours. Blue denoting cold, through to yellow and red denoting heat. Normally, feet are symmetrical with regard to skin temperatures so visual colour patterns are similar. Abnormality is considered as an area of temperature difference of more than 0.8 to 1°C hot or cold, compared with the same area on the opposite foot. A Podium scan can easily show temperature differences when comparing right to a left scan. As part of it’s software programme it will produce a useful statistical report. Asymmetry can indicate a problem.
The Podium was primarily developed as a diagnostic device to help monitor the health of NHS ‘at risk’ patient groups e.g. diabetics, but private podiatry practices can expand it’s clinical application. The Podium can help to detect areas of foot trauma and stress in healthy patient groups. Any irregularities can be investigated and documented to help improve treatment outcomes.
The podium can play a big role in musculoskeletal (MSK) biomechanical assessments. A stress fracture for example will highlight a hot spot of increased temperature. Hot spots can also be detected when patients are wearing ill-fitting or worn down footwear. Using this evidence will help to treat the patient appropriately and monitor later on during a review to assess and progress made. The Podium can be used as a great education tool.
The Podium can empower a podiatrist in clinical practice help to deliver best treatment practice. It can be used alongside conventional diagnostic tools and methods. There is still a place for using a doppler, taking a good patient history and performing MSK assessments, but correlate all evidence together will optimise treatment outcomes. Having visual reproducible scans is a great teaching tool to influence patient behaviour.
Podium scans are available at Compleet Feet.
Foot Evaluation by Infrared Imaging: COL Margarete DiBenedetto, MC USA MILITARY MEDICINE, 167,5:384, 2002.
