Best foot forward

A foot wound teaching model developed by academics at Hertfordshire University could play a key role in improving the care of patients with diabetes and reducing the risk of diabetes-related foot ulcers.

In 2008, the Tissue Viability Team in the university’s School of Nursing and Midwifery developed George, a 3D model of a man complete with a pressure ulcer, a surgical incision that can be removed to reveal a large abdominal wound and a removable fungating tumour.

Following the success of George in the classroom, the team went on to develop Betty (pictured below): a foot model complete with a removable pressure ulcer, a neuropathic ulcer and gangrenous toes.

The development of Betty was led by Julie Vuolo, a senior lecturer at the school who collaborated with Tina Moore, a recent graduate from the university’s Model Design course.

Diabetes affects approximately 1.9 million adults in the UK, with a possible further 500,000 undiagnosed. These numbers have doubled since 1991 and continue to rise, with factors such as obesity and a lack of exercise playing a role in the disease's development.