Time to First Abrasion: A Comparative Evaluation of Flip Flop Strap Designs on Preserved Fetal Pig Skin and Implications for Dorsal Foot Health

Objective: To compare the incidence of skin abrasions caused by traditional straight edge flip flop straps versus rolled inner seam (RIS) designs in a controlled laboratory setting using preserved fetal pig skin as a proxy for human skin. Methods: This study utilized a custom-built apparatus to apply friction from two flip flop strap designs to preserved fetal pig skin samples. Three trials were conducted for each strap design to determine the time to initial abrasion onset. A paired t-test was employed for statistical analysis. Results: The RIS design demonstrated a statistically significant delay in abrasion onset compared to the standard design across all trials (p < 0.05), indicating a gentler interaction with the skin. Conclusion: The RIS strap design may offer a beneficial alternative to traditional straps by reducing the friction that can lead to skin abrasions, suggesting a potential to decrease the risk of dorsal foot ulcers. Further studies involving human subjects are warranted to validate these findings in a real-world context.