In 1960 Josephine Semmes and Sidney Weinstein developed the modern monofilament. Later, the levels of force applied by different monofilaments were correlated to levels of decreased sensory function. In 1987, The Journal of Hand Surgery published "The Repeatability of Testing with Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments" by Judith Bell-Krotoski and Elizabeth Tomancik of the Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center. This study validates the use of Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments as a repeatable and reliable test of sensibility. The study concludes that "the filaments are a controlled, objective, reproducible force stimulus available for use in clinical testing of peripheral nerve function," (161).
In December 1990, Military Medicine published "Management of the Insensitive Foot in Diabetes: Lessons Learned from Hansen's Disease" by John C. Duffy MD, Director, Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center and Charles A. Patout, Jr. MD, Director, National Foot Treatment Center, both in Carville, LA. This study estimates that practicing basic preventative care could reduce lower extremity amputations among diabetics by 50% (575).
The information presented in this brochure was compiled from the following sources:
Care of the Foot in Diabetes...the Carville Approach, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Vienna, VA.
Bell-Krotoski OTR, FAOT, FAOTA, Judith and Elizabeth Tomancik LOTR. 1987. "The Repeatability of Testing with Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments." The Journal of Hand Surgery, 12A:155-161.
Caputo MD, Gregory M. et al. 1994. "Assessment and Management of Foot Disease in Patients with Diabetes." New England Journal of Medicine, 331:854-860.
Duffy MD, John C. and Charles A. Patout Jr. MD. 1990. "Management of the Insensitive Foot in Diabetes: Lessons Learned from Hansen's Disease." Military Medicine, 155:575-579.
Hunter MD, James M., et al., eds. 1995. Rehabilitation of the Hand: Surgery and Therapy, Fourth Edition, 1:585-593.
Touch-Test Sensory Evaluators
© 1998 Copyright North Coast Medical, Inc. All rights reserved.