The Effect of Plantar Hyperkeratosis Debridement on Self-Perception of Pain Levels in older People

Abstract

Background

Plantar hyperkeratotic lesions are one of the most prevalent foot problems among older people. Because of its simplicity, the most common treatment is scalpel debridement. While some studies have analysed its effectiveness in the short term or among other population groups, none has analysed its effects in the medium term. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of plantar hyperkeratosis debridement compared to a control group receiving sham debridement among an older population group.

Methods

Two hundred older participants (76.4 ± 4.8 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: scalpel debridement of plantar hyperkeratoses (experimental group) or sham debridement (control group). Plantar hyperkeratotic pain was measured on a visual analogue scale.

Results

The results suggest that there were no significant differences between the groups studied just after treatment (p = 0.27), although significant differences between them were found as from 24 h after treatment (p = 0.05) and 2 (p = 0.03), 3 (p = 0.04), 4 (p = 0.04) and 5 days after treatment (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that there were significant differences in self-perception of pain levels between the group of older people treated for plantar hyperkeratoses with scalpel debridement and the control group as from 24 h after treatment.