Correlation between digital palpation of pedal pulses and duplex Doppler ultrasonography in evaluating vascular status of the lower limbs in adult diabetics

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between findings of palpation of pedal vessels and duplex Doppler ultrasonography, which has been proved to be a more reliable method of evaluating blood flow. This was a double-blind prospective cross-sectional study of adult diabetics aged 18 years and above, with no history of previous or current foot lesions. Each enrolled patient was assigned a number and then interviewed to obtain pertinent clinical information. The vascular status of the lower limbs of the patients was evaluated by palpation of the posterior tibialis and dorsalis pedis arteries. The patients then had duplex Doppler ultrasonography of the vessels of the legs and feet by an independent examiner using the Mindray M7/M7T Diagnostic Ultrasound System with Colour Doppler mode. Data obtained was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20. There were 14 males and 33 females; mean age was 56.74 years (range 32–82). Ninety four feet of adult diabetics were examined clinically. Palpation of the right and left posterior tibial artery was normal in 51 % of the patients. Palpation of the right and left dorsalis pedis artery was normal in 74.5 and 80.9 % of the patients, respectively. All 47 patients had duplex Doppler ultrasonography. Spearman’s and kappa correlations demonstrated no correlation between the findings on palpation and duplex Doppler ultrasound of the pedal vessels. There is no correlation between results of palpation of pedal pulses and duplex Doppler ultrasonography.