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- Author or Editor: BI Rosenblum x
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Recurrent ulcerations may develop following transmetatarsal amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus. In many cases, these ulcerations require surgical intervention to achieve healing, especially in situations where conservative care has not been effective. These procedures range from the local resection of bone to skin grafting and flap techniques to successfully heal the wound. The ultimate goal of any surgical intervention is to prevent a more proximal amputation.
In March 1949, McKittrick described the use of the transmetatarsal amputation for the diabetic foot, along with specific indications. Infection, ischemia, and neuropathic ulcerations of the toes and forefoot were all treated with this procedure. In the past 30 years, however, advances in the management of these problems have led to a decrease in the number of transmetatarsal amputations performed at the New England Deaconess Hospital. With these advances, the current approach to the transmetatarsal amputation has changed, leading to significant modifications in the basic indications for this procedure.
While the transmetatarsal amputation has resulted in the salvage of numerous diabetic limbs, it remains an ablative procedure with both short- and long-term complications. The authors reviewed their experience with the panmetatarsal head resection as an alternative to the transmetatarsal amputation. A retrospective review was performed of all patients having undergone this procedure between May 1986 and November 1991. Thirty-seven procedures were performed; of these, 34 were evaluated. The average follow-up period was 20.9 months. Thirty-two feet showed primary healing while one showed delayed healing. One patient had local recurrence of the original ulceration. Primary healing was 94% while overall success was 97%. No patient required amputation of any kind. The authors conclude that the panmetatarsal head resection is a viable alternative to the transmetatarsal amputation in properly selected patients because it avoids many of the structural and biomechanical pitfalls of the transmetatarsal amputation.
