How to Avoid a Toe Amputation Due to Injury & Blood Supply

Conditions such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetes cause lessened blood flow to the toes and other extremities. When a patient with lessened blood flow injures a toe, the wound may not heal easily, putting the patient at increased risk for amputation of the toe. Proper foot care combined with aggressive wound treatment may help the patient avoid toe amputation due to injury and poor blood circulation.

Things You'll Need

• Protective shoes
• Antibiotics
• Plain petroleum jelly
• Pumice stone

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Instructions

• 1

  Control or resolve underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and PAD. Take all medications as directed by your doctor and get refills promptly. Monitor your blood glucose. Consider surgery. According to Nael Saad, M.D., from the University of Rochester Medical Center who authored a recent study on PAD and amputations, more aggressive treatments such as angioplasty and stinting may reduce the risk of amputation.

• 2

  Stop smoking. According to the American Diabetes Association, people who smoke have an increased risk of amputation. Smoking impairs your blood circulation, potentially damaging the blood supply to your toes. Smoking also slows healing.

• 3

  Rest the wounded foot until the injury has healed. Do not walk on a wounded foot. After your doctor has cleared you to walk again, wear protective shoes to promote continued healing and prevent re-injury.

• 4

  Care for your injury as your doctor has recommended. Take oral antibiotics and apply topical antibiotic as directed to prevent infection. Notify your doctor immediately if the wound worsens, becomes red or inflamed, feels hot to the touch, or if you have signs of infection like pus or fever. Go to your follow-up appointment even if you feel the wound is healing properly. Only a doctor can check by using an x-ray whether the bone has been affected by your injury or infection, increasing your odds for an amputation.

• 5

  Exercise moderately on a daily basis after your injury has healed to improve circulatory health. Lose weight if you are overweight.

• 6

  Check your feet daily if you suffer from numbness due to poor blood supply, ischemic brain changes, nerve damage or diabetic neuropathy. You may not feel a problem with your skin or minor injury, which can quickly become a major problem leading to amputation.

• 7

  Keep your feet in good health. Wear supportive shoes and use moleskin to avoid blisters, corns and callouses. Do not trim your own callouses or corns. See a doctor for this procedure. Exfoliate your feet daily in the shower with a pumice stone to avoid developing callouses. Apply plain petroleum jelly lightly to the feet, avoiding the area between toes, after washing and drying daily. Wear hosiery to improve circulation as directed by your doctor.