Supply chain evaluation for foot orthotic provision in the NHS
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10978940 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10978940 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 07/10/2015
- Registration date
- 04/11/2015
- Last edited
- 29/11/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
People living with diabetes often have to live with long-term complications of the disease. One of these complications is diabetic peripheral neuropathy, where the nerves in the arms and legs become damaged, causing them to lose sensation. People suffering from diabetic peripheral neuropathy are at much greater risk of developing problems with their feet, such as foot ulcers, because the damage to the nerves reduces sensation in the foot. It is thought that high pressure on the heel and bottom of the foot (plantar pressure) increases the risk of diabetic foot ulcers. For this reason, people with diabetic neuropathy are often prescribed specially-made insoles (orthoses) in order to reduce the pressure on the parts of the foot that usually develop ulcers. Traditionally, orthoses are made using a foot impression box to create a mold which is used to create the insole. In recent years, advances in computerised design have provided an alternative way to create orthoses. The exact structure and shape of the patient’s foot is captured using a digital scanner. The scan is then used to create a specially designed mold in which to make the insole. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of orthoses created using these two methods.
Who can participate?
Diabetic adults with sensory neuropathy who require specially made footwear.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups who receive orthoses to wear inside their specialised footwear. Those in the first group are provided with traditionally made orthoses to wear for the study period. Those in the second group are provided with orthoses which have been designed using a computer, to create a personalised insole using a specially designed mold (milling). Every month, patients are interviewed over the telephone to give their views on the insoles that they have been given. Three and six months after receiving their insoles, participants are asked to attend follow up appointments so that foot pressures can be assessed.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits of taking part in this study, although it will provide information that can be used to help improve the design of insoles using in the NHS. There are no risks of participating in the study.
Where is the study run from?
Royal Blackburn Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2015 to November 2016
Who is funding the study?
Technology Strategy Board (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Daniel Parker
Contact information
Scientific
PO33 Brian Blatchford Building
Frederick Road Campus
University of Salford
Salford
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-9952-1225 |
|---|
Study information
| Study design | Single-centre randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Not Specified |
| Scientific title | Randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of foot orthoses produced by traditional and digital design processes, to reduce pressure and assess the impact on clinical practice |
| Study hypothesis | Milled orthoses are at least effective as the comparator orthoses in terms of pressure relief, but are expected to be more effective in terms of patient and organisational benefits. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. University of Salford ethics review panels, 29/10/2015, ref: HSCR15-89 2. NRES Committee Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire, 27/10/2015, REC ref: 15-YH-0392 |
| Condition | Diabetes |
| Intervention | Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups using computerised block randomisation. Group 1: Traditional Design and Manufacture Process: The geometry of the orthotic is determined by an impression box taken in clinic. The clinician will generate a descriptive prescription for the foot orthotic, including the position of any additions and a description of the materials to be used for each component. The impression box and prescription will be posted or collected to the manufacturer for production. A plaster cast of the foot is then produced. EVA material will be heat formed to the cast and additions will be added manually to match the prescription. This will then be posted back to the clinic for fitting. EVA shells will primarily be made of Low to Medium Density (20 -40 Shore A) hardness with additional features including; varied hardness forefoot sections, cut outs, cut and fills and metatarsal bars material density used in additions will vary dependent on individual requirements. Top covers may be used where multiple additions are included. Group 2: EVA Milled: The upper surface will be based on unmodified shape of the plantar surface of the foot, captured using a digital scan of the patient’s foot. The scan will be taken with the foot plantargrade and participant sat with both legs straight (tibia aligned) and a normal (for that participant) distance apart. The geometry of the other three orthotic surfaces will be as per a template orthotic within the iCustom design tools. The clinician will adapt the digital orthotic design to allow positioning of additions. The description of materials to be used will be recorded in the participant design notes. Digital designs will be sent electronically to UoS for production. The orthotic will be made using milling processes from a block of EVA in the range Shore A 20-40 and additions or top covers will be applied manually. Participants attend clinical reviews at 5 months and 8 months after enrollment. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Plantar pressure will be measured using an in shoe plantar pressure system which captures data concerning the distribution of weight across the bottom of the foot whilst wearing the orthotic insoles at baseline, 1, 2, 5 and 8 months. |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Patient outcomes measured using validated questionnaires (EQ5D, ICECAP, FHSQ) at months 0, 1, 2, 5 and 8. 2. Compliance measured via telephone check-ups at months 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 3. Organisational outcomes measured using service data (number of appointments, number of foot wear and orthotic products supplied) at months 0 - 8 4. Service use data measured via a clinical service receipt inventory at months, 0 - 8 |
| Overall study start date | 15/08/2015 |
| Overall study end date | 30/11/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 50 |
| Total final enrolment | 57 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Aged between 40 and 85 years 2. Have diabetes diagnosed by a medical practitioner 3. Have modular or bespoke (non standard) footwear provided by the orthotics department 4. Have all normal foot structures present 5. Be able to walk without a stick for 100 metres 6. Have sensory neuropathy as assessed by 10mg monofilament and vibratory perception at 3 of 10 sites on the foot and ankle 7. Have detectable pulse in foot and ankle (palpation or Doppler) 8. Must be capable of providing informed consent to participate |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Have had prior foot or ankle surgery 2. Have had prior major injuries to lower limb (e.g. fractures requiring internal fixation, skin grafts) 3. Have prior or active chronic foot or leg ulceration and without episode of ulceration within last 2 years. 4. Require heel pressure reduction intervention 5. Have had prescription foot orthoses via the orthotics department in the last 12 months 6. Co-morbidities (ischemia, renal, charcot arthorpathy) |
| Recruitment start date | 15/10/2015 |
| Recruitment end date | 31/03/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
Blackburn
BB2 3HH
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
The Crescent
Salford
M5 4WT
England
United Kingdom
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/01tmqtf75 |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Private sector organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
- Alternative name(s)
- TSB
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/01/2017 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | It is expected that a minimum of one research paper and one conference proceeding will be published following the completion of this work. The work will be disseminated within the East Lancashire NHS Trust. The outcomes of the study will also be used as a demonstration of the orthotic techniques available for dissemination to other NHS Trusts. |
| IPD sharing plan | Not provided at time of registration |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 08/01/2019 | 16/01/2019 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
29/11/2022: Total final enrolment added.
16/01/2019: Publication reference added.
08/11/2017: Internal review.
11/01/2016: The recruitment end date was changed from 30/12/2015 to 31/03/2016.
