A comparison of weightbearing pressures in various postoperative devices.

Currently, there are a multitude of computerized gait analysis systems to evaluate weightbearing patterns in the foot. The following study utilizes the F-Scan System of foot pressure analysis. This system was applied to evaluate plantar pressures as they occur in various postoperative shoe gear and to determine which devices are most clinically beneficial in ambulatory surgery. A pressure sensor recorded plantar pressures in 20 feet wearing various types of postoperative shoe wear. Initially, a stockinette was used to simulate barefoot pressure, followed by a wooden postoperative shoe, a Darco postoperative shoe, a Darco closed postoperative shoe, a Darco "softie," a Darco wedge, an Equalizer Premium Walker, an Equalizer Low Top Walker, and an Aircast. The results demonstrated that the Equalizer Premium Walker was most efficient in reducing forefoot pressures, while the postoperative surgical shoes had variable results, noticeably with several increases in pressure being recorded.