Yu Gerard V, Schinke Theresa L, Meszaros Amanda
Section of Podiatry, Department of Surgery, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2005 Jul;22(3):395-427. doi: 10.1016/j.cpm.2005.03.008.
Amputation at the level of the ankle joint is a valuable, yet underused procedure for a variety of conditions affecting the foot and ankle. The procedure can provide a comfortable and durable stump that allows a lower extremity amputee to function with minimal disability. The indications, surgical technique, and postoperative prosthetic considerations are reviewed and discussed. Emphasis is placed on the preoperative considerations deemed essential for a successful outcome based on the senior author's experience of 10 cases performed for a wide variety of pathologies. Three case illustrations show the efficacy of the Syme's procedure as an alternative to a higher level amputation, such as below-knee amputation or above-knee amputation.
