HIGH RESOLUTION ULTRASOUND OF THE TIBIAL NERVE IN DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

Abstract

iabetes Mellitus is considered one of the largest global health-care problems of the 21st century. The number of affected individuals with DM worldwide is predicted to double between 2000 and 2030, reaching a pandemic level of 552 million people (Whiting et al., 2011). Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), which has a lifetime incidence of approximately 50%, is considered the most common diabetic complication with subsequent life-threatening outcomes (Singh et al., 2014; Tesfaye et al., 2010). DPN is a leading cause for disability due to its consequences as gait disturbance, fall-related injuries, foot ulcerations, poor healing of infected wounds and eventually amputation. Approximately 20 to 30% of patients with DPN suffer from neuropathic pain (Tesfaye et al., 2011; Callaghan et al., 2012).