monofilament

monofilament

Neurology A nylon bristle passed over the sole of the foot to detect loss of sensation in a diabetic foot and circulatory defects. See Diabetic foot.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

monofilament

(mŏn′ō-fĭl″ă-mĕnt) [″ + filum, thread]

A strand of nylon used to assess sensation in peripheral nerves, especially in the feet of patients with diabetes mellitus and other neuropathic conditions. The inability to feel the prodding of a strand of monofilament on the foot in one or more locations is diagnostic of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

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