Neuropathic Ulcer
A skin wound arising from repetitive pressure or trauma in an area of sensory deficit, commonly associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and managed partly through offloading orthoses.
Full Definition
A neuropathic ulcer is a chronic wound that develops at sites of unperceived pressure or shear stress due to loss of protective sensation, most frequently in the feet of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or other neurological conditions. In orthotic services documentation, the term appears in wound care reports, diabetic foot clinic correspondence, and total contact cast justifications, where the orthotic device's role in pressure redistribution and offloading is central. Editors must not substitute 'neuropathic ulcer' with 'pressure ulcer' or 'pressure injury', as these terms have distinct aetiological and classification implications under wound-care coding systems. The correct adjectival form is 'neuropathic', not 'neurological' or 'neural'.
Usage
Usage note: Do not replace with 'pressure ulcer' or 'pressure injury'; the aetiology (sensory loss vs. sustained external pressure) is clinically and coding-relevant.
In Context
- "The orthotist fabricated a total contact cast to offload the plantar neuropathic ulcer at the first metatarsal head." — Diabetic foot clinic report
- "The draft incorrectly referred to the wound as a 'pressure sore'; the editor corrected this to 'neuropathic ulcer' in line with the clinical diagnosis documented in the referral." — Proofreading correction log