A Picture Says A Thousand Words:
Digital Photography and Podiatry


by Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
Joined practice July 2006 of
John K Throckmorton, DPM
Lansing, Michigan

I’ve owned a digital camera for some time now, but I’ve only intermittently used it.  During residency it was very useful to document surgical cases, which obviously helped with the multitude of presentations required during our training.  I did find it cumbersome, though, to carry a camera along with the other 30 pounds of items hanging off my white coat.  Once I started practice I stopped using the camera.  This was a mistake, which I rectified over the past few months.  As time goes by I find myself using it more and more often.  I’d like to take this time to urge you to carry a digital camera if you have one, and if you don’t then buy one and get very familiar with its use.

As a new doc I’ve done a fair number of community presentations, whether it’s to the local billing organization, health fairs, or diabetic education classes.  We all know that a presentation full of colorful pictures is much more interesting to sit through.  How many lectures have you heard over the years that you can barely keep your eyes open? Additionally, pictures help you to make your point.  Try describing a diabetic ulcer to a patient.  It sounds bad, but it doesn’t hit home quite as well as a large, purulent, necrotic, cellulitic ulcer displayed in living color for your patient to see. 

Digital photography also allows documentation of pathology.  I treat a good bit of onychomycosis in the office. For those patients that I can treat with Lamisil, my protocol after the original 3 month prescription is to see them every 3 months for debridements (along with antifungal sprays to shoes, hyperhydrosis treatments, and daily hygiene and nail care).  After several months it often becomes difficult to tell objectively if the nail is in fact improved.  A photo at various intervals will help to see the progress of care.

Photographing interesting pathology also provides an avenue for your own review.  I recently had a few patients with Raynaud’s disease (very common during the cold Michigan winters).  When I go back and review this pathology I’ll have the photos to review which will provide a concrete link.  Two years from now when I look this topic up again I’ll have my clinical photos to refer to.

Digital photographs also assist with medicolegal protection which integrates well with EMR software.  Here’s an example.  Say a patient tries to sue you after their bunionectomy because they lost hallux toe purchase.  Since you had dutifully taken preop photos you were able to document that they had lost toe purchase prior to the surgery.  Case closed (or at least strong evidence for your side).

More often than not I’ve found myself thinking, “I should get a picture of this.”  Of course, those are the times when I don’t have my camera.  If you haven’t joined the digital world yet, I’d urge you to do so.  It’s another highly useful tool for the modern podiatrist.



Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT New Docs Editor
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