Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35536462›Full record

ArticleInsights into imaging2022

Diabetic foot infections: how to investigate more efficiently? A retrospective study in a quaternary university center.

Aisin Ibrahim, Moncef Berkache, Philippe Morency-Potvin, Daniel Juneau, Martial Koenig, Karine Bourduas, Véronique Freire

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Insights into imaging, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Aisin IbrahimDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, McGill University, 1650 Cedar Avenue (Rm C5-118), Montreal, QC, H3G 1A4, Canada. aisin.ibrahim@mail.mcgill.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4267-8103
Moncef BerkacheFaculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
Philippe Morency-PotvinDepartment of Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Centre hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 1051 Rue Sanguinet, QC, H2X 3E4, Montreal, Canada.
Daniel JuneauDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Centre hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 1051 Rue Sanguinet, QC, H2X 3E4, Montreal, Canada.
Martial KoenigDepartment of Internal Medecine, Centre hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 1051 Rue Sanguinet, QC, H2X 3E4, Montreal, Canada.
Karine BourduasDepartment of Surgery, Orthopedics Division, Centre hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 1051 Rue Sanguinet, QC, H2X 3E4, Montreal, Canada.
Véronique FreireDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Centre hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 1051 Rue Sanguinet, QC, H2X 3E4, Montreal, Canada.
Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal · CAMcGill University Health Centre · CAUniversité Laval · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiabetic foot infections are frequent and associated with substantial morbidity and substantial cost to the healthcare system. Up to 34% of diabetic patients will develop an ulcer potentially leading to osteomyelitis. Imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process. Imaging modalities to investigate the diabetic foot infection are many and imaging prescription habits remain heterogeneous across physicians. We aimed to improve the appropriateness of imaging examination requested, and performed, for diabetic foot osteomyelitis and we aimed to reduce the overall imaging-related cost.

methodsLocal committee was created to develop an algorithm for suspected diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Best practices were defined by the local algorithm. The algorithm was shared with our physicians. Pre- and post-intervention analysis was conducted retrospectively. All adult diabetic patients with suspected foot osteomyelitis were included. Adherence to best practices was measured. Statistical analysis with Chi-Square and two tailed unpaired t-test was performed.

resultsPre-intervention cohort had 223 patients (mean age: 63; 168 men). Adherence to best practice was 43%. Scintigraphy (48%) preferred over MRI (44%) and performed simultaneously in 15 patients. Post-intervention cohort had 73 patients (mean age: 66; 62 men). Adherence to best practice was 78%, improved by 35% (p < 0.001). MRI (51%) preferred over scintigraphy (23%) and performed simultaneously in three patients. Scintigraphy examinations decreased by 25% (p < 0.001). MRI examinations increased by 7% (p = 0.32). Hospital imaging related fees decreased by 22% per patient (p = 0.002).

conclusionInterval improvement in adequate adherence while reducing unnecessary examinations for patients and decreasing costs for the healthcare system was observed.

Indexed as

Diabetic footFoot OsteomyelitisGallium bone scanInvestigationMagnetic resonance imaging

Identifiers

PMID35536462
PMCPMC9086415
OpenAlexW4229454627

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.