Assessment of Foot Drop Surgery in Leprosy Subjects Using Frequency Domain Analysis of Foot Pressure Distribution Images

Abstract

Foot problems in leprosy subjects are of major concern. Quantitative assessment of corrective foot drops surgery in detecting effectiveness of recovery after surgery overtime having prime importance. This paper quantifies and distinguishes between the foot pressure images of leprotic subject for preoperative as well as different duration of postoperative and of normal foot. Detailed analysis is performed on walking foot pressure distribution image in the frequency domain. Power ratio (PR) (ratio of power in higher spatial frequency components to the total power in the power spectrum) is used to distinguish between the foot pressure image pattern in preoperative and postoperative over different time duration. Statistical Analysis involving calculation of 'p' using Welch ANOVA test followed by post Dunnett's test and Kruskal-Wallis test has been carried out on mean PR to understand the progress of recovery after surgery from preoperative state and with normal state in all the foot sole areas. It is observed that the postoperative stages are the one with increase sensitive feet and decrease PR. These results could help in early detection of recovery and/or defect of surgery, and thereby help orthopedic surgeons for early corrective action for preserving or restoring normal foot function.