Evaluation of diabetic foot ulcer development using hyperspectral imaging

Abstract

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is expected to double by 2030. In 2008, diabetes affected over 21 million Americans corresponding to an estimated 7.9% of the population. Foot ulceration is a debilitating comorbidity of diabetes and a leading cause of hospitalization that can result in loss of mobility and amputation. Studies have shown that (i) 15% of all diabetic patients develop a foot ulcer at least once in their life and (ii) foot ulcers precede about 85% of all lower limb amputations among diabetic patients. In the United States alone, more than 88,000 amputations are performed annually on diabetic patients. Treatment of infected and/or ischemic diabetic foot ulcers accounts for about 25% of all hospital days and the costs of foot disorder diagnosis and management are estimated at several billion dollars annually. Thus, early detection of foot ulcer formation could reduce the human and financial costs of the disease. It can assist clinicians in early preventive therapy including unloading or prescribing appropriate orthotics or footgear. Predictions of healing probability could also increase the limb salvation rate.