Following the diabetic feet progress for the prevention of ulcers using Optical Image Registration techniques

The global burden of diabetes is projected to increase from 246 million people to over 380 million people by 2025 [1]. The main pathogenic mechanisms involved in diabetic foot complication include ischemia, neuropathy, and infection which combined with the presence of foot deformities and high pressure can produce tissue ulceration, necrosis, and finally leeds to amputation [2]. Foot ulcers recurrence was addressed in several studies and one of the main risk factors reported was the Motor Neuropathy complication associated to foot deformities (claw toe) [3]. The loss of foot flexor strength allows the foot extensors to contract and consequently the toes are pulled into a claw position and as a result the fat pad is pulled off the metatarsal heads, producing high pressure points under the metatarsal heads and the tips of the toes; those are the common areas for ulceration. Furthermore, it was also evidenced that the foot injuries occur while the patient is walking and are mainly caused by the forces that are generated during gait.