Aesthesiometry: Quantification of cutaneous pressure sensation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy

The Semmes-Weinstein pressure aesthesiometer, which measures cutaneous pressure sensation, was used for quantifying sensory loss in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Eighty subjects comprising four groups were tested: nondiabetic controls; non-neuropathic, diabetic controls; diabetic subjects with neuropathy and without a history of pedal ulcerations; and, diabetic subjects with a history of or active pedal ulceration. Cutaneous pressure sensation of 10 dorsal and plantar sites on the foot were tested, using a method of interval comparison modeled after the two-alternative forced choice algorithm. The sensitivity threshold level was defined as the lightest probe in which the subject accurately chose the correct interval in at least 2 out of 3 trials.