[Technics of primary and secondary amputation of the foot]

Maintenance therapy of the traumatized foot by partial amputation, in contrast to lower-leg amputation with subsequent artificial leg adjustment, should always be attempted if there is any possibility of shaping a stump that is independent of the prosthesis. As in former years, the disarticulation technique is performed; however, today the technique has been modified to obtain more functional results and to conserve tissue, which may mean that transosseous amputation is practicable. The quality of the soft-tissue flap and stability are the determining factors in the quality of the stump. These prerequisites mean that the operative technique must be adapted to the requirements of the patients; the soft tissue must be preserved and procedures used that will permit reconstructive procedures later.