Book review

This book has been written specifically for an audience of podiatrists and podiatry students. Other healthcare practitioners who have an interest in the management of diabetes related foot complications, or work with this client group, will also find this book a valuable resource. This text will support current practice for podiatrists working in high risk foot clinics, but also will assist clinicians and students looking to up-skill and work in this challenging area of podiatry.

The aim of the book is to assist clinicians to improve client outcomes. This aim is achieved through a strong focus on assessment. The author emphasizes the importance of assessment and engagement of multi-disciplinary teams in the management of diabetes related foot complications. Each of the 11 chapters provides a comprehensive over-view of all areas of diabetic foot assessment and management, including management of infection, Charcot osteoarthropathy and the importance of debridement in wound management. Assessment recommendations are appropriately holistic including a chapter dedicated to psycho-social influences on client management and in turn the impact on client outcomes.

Each chapter is prefaced by a Shakespearean quote, which introduces the subject and engages the reader. There is a fabulous array of colour photos or X-rays to illustrate each topic. My particular favourite is the image of a strand of dogs’ hair imbedded under the skin, or perhaps the depiction of a dry necrotic great toe amputated by the podiatrist! The photos visually depict how and why people with diabetes develop foot complications. This text would be particularly useful for community based clinicians to recognise complications early and provide appropriate intervention and referral.

The author explains she has a distinct dislike for political correctness in the preface of the book. Despite this explanation, I found the disregard for political correctness throughout the text, such as labelling clients as “non-compliant”, mildly distracting. I fear such labels may impact on client care and inexperienced podiatrists or students may use these terms inappropriately. Treatment and management recommendations throughout the text are based on expert opinion and research findings, the foundations of evidence based practice. Disappointingly, the published research supporting the authors’ opinion has not been duly referenced.

Overall this is a very comprehensive text and I would happily recommend its use by podiatrists and students in both community and hospital based settings. I will definitely keep this book in our high risk foot clinic for all clinicians to access.