Articles and Clinical Information
Intended audience: Healthcare professionals, students in all healthcare programmes and those who would desire as much information as possible.
Welcome to my clinical resource library which I hope will help people. Lectures can be arranged for GPs, Podiatry Branches as well as for lay groups. With an ever greater need for multidisciplinary work, information shared benefits all. As we say at Busypencilcase Communications – ‘Progress through the art of communication’.
Contact e-mail address: consultingfootpain@gmail.com. Please state ‘clinician portal’ on the header of your message.
Latest publication for patients from Amazon kindle publication. Morton’s Neuroma £2.82
If you wish to become a beta reader or wish to contribute to writing, Busypencilcase Communications will be happy to assist.
Please contact me:- myfootjourneys@mail.com
**************************************************
Musings on the Foot
Conflicting ideas about the human foot are considered for critical discussion.What are the knowns, and do they stand up to our modern perception of the foot condition? Published December 2016
The Chilled Foot
Written for local GPs around our hospital at Spire Little Aston, the information is designed to help patients combat general chilling of the foot. A DIY self help section is included together with tips . I recommend using the animal wool sock for acute chilling and chilblain. This is an old but inexpensive remedy. Published January 2015. David R Tollafield (C) Busypencilcase Communications.
Corns,Callus and Keratoma Study for podiatrists
Definitions have been set out to compare work from 1984 and 2014. The outcome of has been reviewed as data from 165 podiatrists suggests that the understanding of the border and extent of the depth of each lesion from clinical photographs could account for variation in the results. This places the accuracy around 80%. The latest publication came out in November 2017 published in the Journal of Foot & Ankle Research.
ABSTRACT
Background
The management of plantar corns and callus has a low cost-benefit with reduced prioritisation in healthcare. The distinction between types of keratin lesions that forms corns and callus has attracted limited interest. Observation is imperative to improving diagnostic predictions and a number of studies point to some confusion as to how best to achieve this. The use of photographic observation has been proposed to improve our understanding of intractable keratin lesions.
Methods
Students from a podiatry school reviewed photographs where plantar keratin lesions were divided into four nominal groups; light callus (Grade 1), heavy defined callus (Grade 2), concentric keratin plugs (Grade 3) and callus with deeper density changes under the forefoot (Grade 4). A group of ‘experts’ assigned from qualified podiatrists validated the observer rated responses by the students.
Results
Cohen’s weighted statistic (k) was used to measure inter-observer reliability. First year students (unskilled) performed less well when viewing photographs (k = 0.33) compared to third year students (semi-skilled, k = 0.62). The experts performed better than students (k = 0.88) providing consistency with wound care models in other studies.
Conclusions
Improved clinical annotation of clinical features, supported by classification of keratin- based lesions, combined with patient outcome tools, could improve the scientific rationale to prioritise patient care. Problems associated with photographic assessment involves trying to differentiate similar lesions without the benefit of direct palpation. Direct observation of callus with and without debridement requires further investigation alongside the model proposed in this paper.
Callus classification-preparing new work based on an original study 30 years ago
David Tollafield reviews corns with clinical pictures in this information sheet based on his 1984/5 work. The original paper is published below as in 1985 in the Journal called The Chiropodist. Such lesions need to be carefully assessed by the professional as many skin excrescences are not suited to pedicure or repeated debridement. Diagnostic techniques are required together with wider professional specialisation to manage this form of foot pain. Research carried out by the author during 2015-16 included 57 first and third year podiatry students matched against an expert panel. Reliability was analysed using Kappa statistics and considered more useful than percentage evaluation. For the first time the 1985 study could be objectively evaluated and the conclusion suggested that rather than 4 stages (types).
Callus classification-associated with hallux valgus. An original study 30 years ago by Tollafield & Price
Original study 1984. 1700 patients. hallux valgus and callus lesions classified by Tollafield to help students determine lesion severity. Published The Chiropodist (1985)
Heel pain advanced diagnosis
Heel pain is a repetitive stress condition causing foot pain. This presentation by David Tollafield to a West Midlands Podiatric Audience emphasised the fact that some conditions may not be simple.
All clinicians, including medical doctors should be aware that recalcitrant heel pain should be correctly diagnosed and a plan of treatment put into place rather than relying on repeat medications.
CLINICAL EVIDENCE: Hallux Valgus Surgery. February 2013
A Report from the PASCOM-10 Working Party written and developed by Anthony Maher FCPodS and David Tollafield FCPodS. The purpose of this and subsequent reports is to provide a summary of hallux valgus (bunion) treatment data held on the PASCOM-10 database at a national level. The PASCOM-10 online audit tool was introduced to the profession in May 2010 and represents a considerable leap forward in auditing the outcomes of podiatry treatment. PASCOM-10 replaced the previous software based system (PASCOM 2000). Since its introduction, PASCOM-10 has registered 31190 patients and 29446 episodes of care across 178 centres (system accessed at 16:00 on 24.01.2013). There are 429 registered users ranging from administrative staff to podiatrists of all grades. It is hoped that with time data generated by PASCOM-10 will become a useful tool for monitoring trends and for benchmarking services at a local level.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and foot surgery
This is a condition which is under reported and often misdiagnosed. Burning foot pain was once described by a sufferer as think of pain experienced when putting your hand in a bucket of scalding water without the ability to take it out. Such descriptions must bring home to clinicians and patient alike the potential for this condition to alter one’s way of life. The condition however is not always as severe but early diagnosis is critical. We aim for a diagnosis within three months if not faster but other conditions can mimick the potential symptoms and signs. This makes CRPS a tough condition to judge.
General Practitioner information pack on basic foot health conditions
A handout used for podiatry students, junior GPs and those wanting a quick update. Free download for those with existing medical knowledge.
Delayed wound healing associated with suture foreign body reactions in foot surgery
A complex analysis of wound healing and problems viewed from a more scientific point based on suture reactions following surgery. David Tollafield considers foot surgery and foot pain issues following a lecture given to an international podiatry audience in 2008 in Eire www.consultingfootpain.co.uk/clinician portal/
Wound healing lecture slide presentation. Case histories
View the slide presentation given by David Tollafield to an international podiatry audience in 2008 in Eire www.consultingfootpain.co.uk/clinician portal/. Wound healing and problems viewed from a more scientific point based on suture reactions following surgery.
Is it possible to sex up bunions by calling it hallux valgus?
A power point slide presentation showing the effects of cartilage degeneration and different bunion deformities. Victoria Beckam’s foot from the Daily Mail was even portrayed!
Can we sex up bunions? Short article for clinicians
The bunion (hallux valgus) is a misunderstood condition causing foot pain is often left too late to be managed effectively. Tollafield discusses why this is the case.
CLINICAL EVIDENCE:Basal wedge osteotomy v Lapidus fusion for hallux valgus
David Tollafield reviews his base wedge osteotomy for severe bunion pain as part of his reflective practice awareness using PASCOM-10 data www.pascom-10.com
The effect of sedation with Midazolam on daycare foot surgery
Sedation has a profound effect on the quality of podiatric foot surgery and foot pain treatment. This work has taken four years to bring to the public although represents some 15 years of experience by leading podiatric surgeon David Tollafield. We all know blood pressure can be improved when we are anxious but this is the first podiatric study covering use of Midazolam with senior anaesthetist Dr Nike Akinwale. Articulo is a Spanish Podiatric Journal (English version).
Midfoot arthropathy Protocol (Walsall Podiatry)
The basis of our approach to foot pain arthropathy is set out in our protocol. Refer to clinical information fact sheet 58 for sheet 53 for podiatric surgery.
Evidence from David Tollafield on Silastic Implant surgery
This is an abstract of work undertaken in 2000 with Professor Robert Asford and published in The Foot. The silastic implant plays an important contribution in the management of damaged first toe joints without losing movement.
Silastic toe joint information for patients (50)
Click on fact sheet 50 for current patient information.Pain in big toe joints can be significantly improved in a short period.