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Published on: January 24, 2018
Long-term results of salvage surgery in severely injured feet
Ricardo C Ferreira1, Minoru A Sakata, Marco T Costa
1Foot and Ankle Division, Santa Casa Medical School, Orthopaedics, Rua Barata Ribeiro 380, cj 64, Bela Vista, São Paulo, SP 01308-000, Brazil. ceckley@unisys.com.br
Background:
The purpose of our study was to analyze the long-term outcome of salvage surgery in severely injured feet.
Material And Methods:
Clinical-functional scores and radiographic findings were used to assess the outcome of 18 patients (19 feet) with severe trauma to the foot treated at a tertiary teaching hospital from January, 1985 to October, 2005. Fourteen males and four females with a mean age of 35 years were studied. The mean followup period was 76 months.
Results:
There was a high incidence of late complications and poor functional results (mean AOFAS = 68/100): chronic pain, 15 of 19 (mean analogical pain score 3.4/10); global foot stiffness, 11 of 19 (with radiographic evidence of arthritis of the remaining foot joints in 13 of 19); residual deformity, 13 of 19; arterial-venous insufficiency, 12 of 19; signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, seven of 19; chronic ulcers, six of 19; and chronic osteomyelitis, two of 19. Twelve patients had a visible limp and only 8 of 19 returned to work.
Conclusions:
Five years after severe foot injury most patients had painful stiffness and only 40% returned to work. Long-term clinical-functional results of the severely injured foot may be disappointing.
