To The Editor:
With regard to "Lengthening of the Achilles Tendon in Diabetic
Patients Who Are at High Risk for Ulceration of the Foot," by D.
G. Armstrong, S. Stacpoole-Shea, H. Nguyen, and L. B. Harkless
(81-A: 535-538, April 1999), we have recognized an error that should
be identified. Patients taking part in this study were originally consented
and enrolled as part of a case-control investigation of risk factors
for diabetic foot ulceration (Lavery et al., Archives of
Internal Medicine, 158: 157-162, 1998). In the description
of the methods, we incorrectly indicated that this was a prospective
study. The design was in fact a retrospective evaluation of patients
who had this procedure. Initial pressure and range of motion data
were collected as part of the case-control study cited above. In
our clinic, measurement of plantar pressure is often performed as
part of preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluation of diabetic
patients with foot pathology who have surgery with the objective
of eliminating pathological forces. This was the case of the data used
in this report, and collection of these data therefore fell under
exempt status by our Institutional Review Board. We thank you for
your attention to this matter.
David G. Armstrong, D.P.M.
Susan Stacpoole-Shea, B.App.Sc.(Pod), Ph.D.C
Hienvu Nguyen, D.P.M.
Lawrence B. Harkless, D.P.M.
Department of Orthopaedics
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900