The modified Pirogoff amputation for traumatic partial foot amputations.

OBJECTIVE

To describe our experience with a modification of the Pirogoff amputation, in the treatment of serious injuries to the hind foot.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University hospital, The Netherlands.

SUBJECTS

Six patients who required amputation of the hind foot after serious injury.

INTERVENTIONS

The modified Pirogoff amputation (amputation of the foot at the ankle with part of the calcaneus left in the lower end of the stump) was done four times as an emergency and twice electively between 1979 and 1991.

RESULTS

All the patients were satisfied with their stumps at follow up (7 months-13 years). None had stump pain or phantom pain and they were able to walk about indoors without using the prosthesis.

CONCLUSION

We recommend the Pirogoff amputation as the treatment of choice in the management of partial traumatic amputation and other injuries of the foot, should a transmetatarsal amputation be impossible and about 5 cm of the sole of the foot can be preserved.