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Amputation of the Foot or Toe
What is it? Overview Usage Side Effects and Warnings
Answers

What is Amputation of the Foot or Toe?

Surgical removal of a toe, foot, or part of a foot

Amputation is most often done to:

  • Treat infections
  • Remove dead or damaged tissue, such as gangrene may cause

Gangrene of Foot
Gangrene of Foot
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Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have an amputation, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

  • Difficulty healing
  • Infection
  • Stump pain (severe pain in the remaining tissue)
  • Phantom limb pain (a painful sensation that the foot or toe is still there)
  • Continued spread of gangrene, requiring amputation of more areas of your foot, toes, or leg
  • Bleeding
  • Nerve damage
  • Limp (depending on which toe has been removed)
  • Contracture deformity

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

  • Smoking
  • Infection
  • Poorly controlled diabetes
  • Poor blood circulation
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Heart problems...
 
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