Authors' objectives: To assess the efficacy/effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of podoscope in footprint analysis

Authors' results and conclusions: Podoscope showed comparable accuracy and excellent reliability with ink footprint methods and clinical assessment in determining foot deformity either in adult or paediatric patients; accuracy ranging from 90.5% to 96.50% and correlation ranging from ≥0.75 to >0.9, respectively. One study compared podoscope with radiograph in screening flatfoot among paediatric patients, the sensitivity for radiological parameter was 95.2% with an overall accuracy of 82% while podoscope was 85.7% and 67%, respectively. One SR among paediatric patients with Down’s Syndrome found that there were very good values of the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.984 to 0.995 of the included parameters index. Besides, the study also reported very good ICC values which were equal to or greater than 0.988 for all podiatric parameter indices. The included studies also reported several advantages toward podoscope over ink-footprint. Podoscope provide high quality plantar surface image with high resolution images, foot’s outer border was sharper and clearer than ink-mat method, and the measurement were using standard and valid software which able to minimise error during manual measurement. Podoscope also speed-up the whole foot-print analysis with improved data and image storing systems. There was no retrievable evidence specifically discussed on safety, organisational issues and cost-effectiveness of podoscope. The price of digital podoscope is varies depending on the specification of the device. Thus, based on the review, podoscope showed good performance with strong correlation with ink-footprint manual measurement as well as clinical diagnosis by the experience assessors. However, when compared with radiograph, radiograph was more sensitive for flat foot than the podoscope. Overall, the podoscope will speed up the whole process of footprint analysis process with improved data and image storing systems. There were no issues on safety and no costeffectiveness study retrieved on podoscope for foot deformity screening.

Authors' methods: Literature search was conducted by an Information Specialist who searched for published articles on podoscope for footprint analysis. The following electronic databases were searched through the Ovid interface: Ovid MEDLINE® In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Ovid MEDLINE® 1946 to 31 July 2024. Parallel searches were run in PubMed, US FDA and INAHTA database as well as CADTH. Some limitations applied during search (animal study). Additional articles were identified from reviewing the references of retrieved articles. The last search was performed on 31 July 2024.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/database_stores/store_view_page/30/414

Year Published: 2024

URL for published report: https://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/database_stores/store_view_page/30/414

Requestor: Physiotherapist

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Mini HTA

Country: Malaysia

Organisation Name: Malaysian Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Level 4, Block E1, Parcel E, 62590 Putrajaya Malaysia Tel: +603 8883 1229

Contact Name: htamalaysia@moh.gov.my

Contact Email: htamalaysia@moh.gov.my

Copyright: Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS)