Functional considerations in partial foot amputations

Recent developments in both surgical techniques and prosthetic management have improved the prognosis for foot amputations between the transmetatarsal and Syme's levels. Retention of active ankle motion is often permitted by partial foot amputations. Vocational and avocational requirements for active, voluntary ankle motions should be considered preoperatively in selected patients. Three case reports are used to illustrate this concept. Appropriate surgical techniques and prosthetic devices may improve the quality of life for some individuals requiring distal lower extremity amputations.