New 3D printed feet designed to mimic diabetic foot wounds

It's gore, sticky and probably on the nose, but a mix of icing sugar, chicken broth and flexible resin turns out to be the perfect recipe for creating realistic foot ulcers under the skin. First podiatric training initiative at the University of London. South of Australia.

Dr. Helen Banwell and Dr. Ryan Causby of UniSA have added the sticky, newly printed three-dimensional foot mixture and are designed to mimic infected and uninfected diabetic foot wounds.

The 3D printed feet are created with cavities resembling wounds in place. Made from thermoplastic polyurethane (plastic having many properties, including elasticity, transparency and resistance to oil, grease and abrasion), each impression takes a week and costs less than $ 4. The addition of ulcers and effects of real life is added by the creative hands of the UniSA podiatry team and can encompbad everything from dry gangrene to pus oozing.

According to Dr. Banwell, 3D foot models will play an important role in teaching students in fourth-year podiatry about how to treat and manage high-risk foot problems.

"Managing and effectively treating severe foot conditions is an essential skill in podiatry, particularly because of the steady rise in type 2 diabetes in our population," said Dr. Banwell.

"Foot care is extremely important for people with diabetes because even a small cut can have catastrophic consequences, including foot ulcers, lower limb sores or amputations."

Diabetic foot disease is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, with a death rate worse than many cancers. Diabetic Foot Australia estimates that every day 300,000 people are at risk of developing diabetic foot disease.

In Australia, diabetes causes more than 4,400 amputations and 10,000 hospitalizations for diabetes-related foot ulcers, many of which end in a limb or part of an amputated limb.

"Over the past two decades, we have seen a 30% increase in the rate of lower limb amputation," said Dr. Banwell.

About 85% of these are preceded by a foot ulcer and could be prevented with proper care.

"The most effective way to manage these conditions is to medically remove dead or damaged skin in order to expose healthy skin underneath and encourage healing." However, it is difficult to acquire the scalpel skills to do so because of the risks badociated with "practice." high-risk population.

"The 3D foot models – and the injury simulations with which we are improving them – allow us to provide a realistic but safe learning tool for students to practice their scalpel skills before that they do not start their clinical internships without the stress and anxiety of a real patient. "

To support the training, videos of debridement and ulcer management are being developed in partnership with the NADC accredited high-risk foot clinic at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

"New technologies are opening doors every day," said Dr. Banwell. "Our 3D injury-enhancing foot models are a meeting of creative minds and new technologies, and we are very satisfied with the result.

"When students meet the models, we will know that they will be pleasantly (or perhaps unpleasantly) surprised.What ever, we are certain that they will gain the confidence, the techniques and the critical skills that will put them ahead of the competition. "

The new formation with 3D foot models officially starts on Monday 1st April (no kidding).