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What is the treatment for Diabetic foot drop?

Dr Shital Parikh
Assistant Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center,
Ohio

Q: What is the treatment for diabatic foot drop? My mother-in-law is suffering.

A:Its a difficult situation. First you need to have good control of blood sugar levels. If there are no ulcerations and skin condition is good, an orthotic might help to dorsiflex the foot, thus helping with the foot drop. In long standing cases, tendon transfers can be done for severe equinus deformities, or sometimes even arthorodesis. However, the treatment is based on the amount of disability and functional loss rather than the diagnosis.