Total Contact Casting in Daily Practice: Clinical Results from a Prospective Study
A prospective follow-up study published in Diabetes Care evaluated the effectiveness of Total Contact Casting (TCC) in managing neuropathic plantar diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) under real-world clinical conditions.
Over the course of treatment, 90% of ulcers healed with TCC, with a mean healing time of 5.7 weeks. The study involved 46 patients and highlighted the critical importance of consistent pressure offloading for wound closure. Notably, TCC was shown to outperform removable offloading devices due to enforced adherence, making it a practical "gold standard" in diabetic foot care.
TCC not only promoted faster healing but also minimized patient activity levels, thereby reducing trauma to the wound area. Despite the technical application and follow-up requirements, the authors concluded that TCC remains the most effective method of pressure relief in clinical practice when used appropriately.