Paradoxical Transcutaneous Oxygen Response to Cutaneous Warming on the Plantar Foot Surface: A Caution for Interpretation of Plantar Foot TcPO 2 Measurements

Abstract

We examined the effect of cutaneous warming on the transcutaneous oxygen measurement (TcPO₂) at standard locations below the knee, on the dorsal foot, on the plantar right great toe, and on the plantar surface under the second metatarsal head of 656 diabetic and 16 nondiabetic subjects. All subjects underwent a directed medical history, physical examination, and neurovascular lower extremity evaluation and assessment of autonomic neuropathy. Associations between autonomic neuropathy and TcPO₂ were tested using two-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression.

An unexpected, statistically significant fall in TcPO₂ occurred with cutaneous warming from 37°C to 44°C on the plantar great toe surface that did not differ by presence of autonomic neuropathy, or the presence of diabetes (mean change: −8.82 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −7.70 to −9.93). The TcPO₂ measured at the plantar metatarsal head site also fell with cutaneous warming from 37°C to 44°C (mean change: −9.67 mmHg, 95% CI: −7.75 to −11.59). As expected, the TcPO₂ increased with cutaneous warming from 37°C to 44°C on the dorsal foot site (mean rise:= 35.61 mmHg, 95% CI: 34.18 to 37.04). The mean TcPO₂ at any site did not differ by presence of autonomic neuropathy at either 37°C or 44°C.

We conclude that cutaneous warming leads to a paradoxical fall in TcPO₂ on the plantar foot surface that does not depend on the presence of autonomic neuropathy or diabetes. Caution in interpretation of ambient versus warmed plantar TcPO₂ values is recommended.