Hallux amputation for diabetic osteomyelitis.

Digital amputation for infection in the diabetic patient requires accurate assessment of wound healing potential as a function of clinical and noninvasive studies of cutaneous blood flow. The diabetic propensity for staphylococcal infection, microangiopathy, and delayed wound healing may be questionable in light of recent literature. X-rays, xeroradiographs, and bone scans are useful guides to osseous infection involvement. Amputation technical planning is mandatory. Proper assessment results in a dynamic functional amputation stump with little impact on gait.