CHAPTER 37
SURGICAL TECHNIQUES OF HALLUX AMPUTATION
James L. Boucbard, DPM
Many surgeons have documented the success of
more distal amputations emphasizing the techniques
of limb preseruation. The primary function of the
lower extremity is locomotion ancl the podiatrist's
goal is to presefl/e this function. Because the amount
of energy expended in walking increases as the level
of the amputation progresses proximally, the
primary objective of amputation surgery when
necessary is the maintenance of a functional stump
at a level capable of healing. \[hen a neurotrophic
diabetic patient presents with a chronic fool ulcera-
tion, a more proximal amputation is not always
necessary. Partial forefoot amputations may allow'
for preseruation of a functional foot with a major
advantage being the abiliry to bear weight.
The purpose of this presentation is to present
the principles and techniques of hallux amputation
surgery emphasizing the intraoperative procedules
and outlining the stirgical techniques of both hallux
disarticulation and osteotomy hallux amputations.
The advantages and disadvantages of both
techniques are presented. One of the major
objectives of hallux amputaiion surgery is to
maintain a functional limb, which is capable of
adequate wound healing, thus preventing the need
for additional amputation at a more proximal 1eve1.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Most surgeons aplree on certain basic principles in
amputation sllrgery in order to obtain a successful
result. These may be categorized in the following
anatomic groups: skin, mtiscle function, nelve
endings, blood vessels, bony prominences, and
diseased tissues. These principles are applicable to
hallux amputation.
Great care must be taken by the surgeon to
minimize trauma to the skin, by avoiding unneces-
sary instrumentation or excessive handling of the
tissues. In order to preserue the deep circulation and
viability of the tissues, anatomic dissection with
separation of tissue layers is avoided. During
surgery, consideration must be given to each tissue
encountered and the role it would play in providing
function following hallux amputation. It is essential
that all diseased tissue is exciseci and that no dead
space remains prior to final skin closure. It is
impofiant to cletermine whether the wound should
be packecl open, or ciosed by secondary healing,
delayed primary closure at a later date, or closed
primarily at the time of surgery. \fhen in doubt. the
surgeon should leave the wound open.
If the wound is closed it should be with a non-
reactive material, usually a monofilament suture with
no tension on the wound edges. The flap should
have adequate length fbr appropriate closure with-
out tension, which requires surgical planning. In the
presence of peripheral vascular disease, the surgery
must be meticulous with delicate handling of ail
tissues. Strict aseptic technique should be utiiized to
avoid wound infection, which may lead to a
disastrous result. In the presence of serious infection
and ischemia, packing the wound open usually
provides a lou.er rate of w-ound complications or
sepsis. Staging the time and level of arnputation is
imperative. in the presence of infection, appropriate
antibiotics gir.en preoperatively and postoperatively
help assure appropriate healing of the wound edges.
Preseruation of muscle function is extremely
impoftant when a hallux amputation is performed.
The surgeon shor,rld use great care to preserue the
filnction of the intrinsic muscle attachments to the
base of the proxirnal phalanx. The insertion of the
intrinsic muscle attachments are violated in total
hallux disarticulation amputation, ancl there is a high
incidence of muscle imbalance, which commonly
presents as instability of the first ray that may cause
inversion or valars deformity of the foot. In seYere
foot infection, there may be extensive necrosis of
majol muscle function necessitatinEl a more proximal
amputation such as paftial or complete first ray
amputation. In more severe cases, a below-knee or
above-knee amputation may be necessary.
Painftrl and disabling slump neuromas are com-
mon following amputation. Al1 sensory nelves
encountered should be sharply incised at a proximal
level, protecting them from any potential exlernal
force such as the patient's shoe. The incised nerve
ending should be alloqred to retract proximally to
avoid reinnelation of the skin or distal anatomic
stftictllres.
 CHAPTER 37 203

ffi&
ffiffi

ffifr Figure.1. Adeqnate bleeding uras notecl at the tilne of the skin incision.
t.i,i.h rr'rt , .tr,r,-tg indication thrt the patient had aclequete circula-
tion firr appropriate healing of the rvolincl tirllon'ing alnplltation

Itffi
Figure J. A comparison of disarticr'rlation ampll-
tation (right) .1ncl osteotomlr amputation (lcti)
techniques.

Figure 5. The flrst metatarsal head n'as iclentifieci :rnd clisarticulated at

the first metatarsal phalangeal loint

Figure 6. All necrotic ancl diseasecl tissrte n':Ls

rernovecl at the time of amputation to p1'event
further complications from infection, or in n-rore
severe c:1ses necrotizing f:LSCiiiis
 204 CHAPTER 37

Figure 7. Frequent lavagc [.ith cool sterile $'ater prior to srollnd

closure helpecl to provide priman, nound healing. Note the he:rlthy
cartilxge on the remaining flrst metatars.Ll heacl prior to $'ound closure.

Figure 8. Intraoperative cultures inclucling gram

stain. cuhuic and sensitir-iq' for aerobes ancl
an:Lerobes. acid fast stain, tnd fi-rngal
cultures n'ere taken. Amplltation specimen s,as
sent tbr bone ctiltures and identification of a
clean proximal n'rargin. The importance of
appropdate bone biopsv to iclentil_v a clean mal:-
gin ancl bone cultures cannot be o\rer
emphasizecl.

Figure 9. The surgical area was closecl primarilv s,-ith a non-absorbable Figure 10. Ts,-o weeks postoperati\.e result follon-ing right hallux
synthetic sutlrre and dr,v sterile compressive dressings \\'ere applied, amputation. Note prior hallux amputation of the left hallux one year
firllos,'ed b1, reclressing of the I'ouncl in three days. Because adequate prer.ious11,.
hemost:rsis u,,as provided, no tubes or drains l.ere necessatw. The
patient nras dischargecl from the hospital rl,.ith instructions for strict
non-r'eight bearing on crutches for 10-14 days follorved b.v partial
w-eight beering in a surgical shoe.

POSTOPERAITVE MANAGEMENT
Most postoperative regimes following halh:x
amputation initially require strict non-weight bearing
of the involved extremily. It is important for the
podiatric surgeon to not neglect the contralateral
1imb, which is at increased risk. This requires
frequent monitoring and protective measures. The
use of the Cam walker is an excellent regime to
progress from a non-weight bearing to a pafiial
weight bearing status. The Cam walker can be used
effectively until it is appropriate to advance to the
use of a shoe. An extra depth shoe with a prescribed
plastizote medial forefoot filler and inlay, combined
with a rigid shank is recommended for ambulation
following successful healing. The use of a neutral
position ofihotic device with intrinsic forefoot
posting helps to control the potential postoperative
forefoot varus position following hallux amputation
surgery.
Historically, diabetic patients presenting with a
foot r:lceration would have had an amputation at a
proximal level because of the assumed inabiliry to
heal at the level of distal amputations. \7hen an
infection has involved the plantar spaces of the foot,
it has been believed that the only hope of saving the
patient's limb was to perform a guillotine
amputation of the affected limb. \(hen a r:lrre of 1,,( fre<\ilT({. Atq \as, Srlr lq()4:x.
neurotrophic diabetic patient presents with foot
ulcerations, it is not always necessary to perform a
proximal amputation. Partial forefoot amputations
such as a hallux amputation a1low the minimum
possible amputation at the lowest level with a major
advantage of the ability to bear weight.
CHAPTER 37 205
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