PC Diabetic Foot Care & Wound Management 3

Question 1

Which vascular test provides a non-invasive assessment of forefoot perfusion and is particularly useful when ABI is falsely elevated due to arterial calcification in diabetics?

Accepted Answer

Toe-brachial index (TBI)

Answer

The toe-brachial index (TBI) measures digital artery pressure and is more reliable in diabetics because digital arteries are typically spared from medial calcification that falsely elevates ABI.

Question 2

A patient with a chronic non-healing diabetic foot ulcer has a transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) of 25 mmHg. How should the podiatrist interpret this result?

Accepted Answer

Borderline perfusion; consider adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Answer

TcPO2 values between 20–40 mmHg indicate borderline perfusion where adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy may improve healing potential.

Question 3

Which antimicrobial agent is most appropriate for empiric treatment of a mild, non-limb-threatening diabetic foot infection in a patient with no prior MRSA history?

Accepted Answer

Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin)

Answer

Amoxicillin-clavulanate provides broad-spectrum coverage against common aerobic gram-positive cocci and is recommended for mild diabetic foot infections not at high risk for MRSA.

Question 4

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is contraindicated in which of the following clinical scenarios involving a diabetic foot wound?

Accepted Answer

Wound with exposed untreated osteomyelitis

Answer

NPWT is contraindicated when osteomyelitis is present and untreated, as the negative pressure can disseminate infection into surrounding viable tissue.

Question 5

What is the recommended duration of antibiotic therapy for diabetic foot osteomyelitis when surgical resection of infected bone is performed?

Accepted Answer

2–4 weeks post-operatively

Answer

When infected bone is completely resected, 2–4 weeks of post-operative antibiotics is generally sufficient per IDSA guidelines, as opposed to 6+ weeks needed without resection.

(PC) Podiatrist Certification Practice Test

(PC) Podiatrist Certification Practice Test

PC Diabetic Foot Care & Wound Management 3