Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a disease that requires toe amputation is made by the doctor on the basis of various examinations. An amputation is usually only considered if there is irreversible tissue damage and the toe cannot be preserved. This may be the case, for example, if there is insufficient blood flow as a result of a calcification of the blood vessels or if the wound does not heal.In addition to the medical consultation and the physical examination, the physician uses, for example, a vascular presentation of the blood vessels using imaging techniques such as angiography for the diagnosis.

Associated symptoms

The possible accompanying symptoms that may occur when a toe amputation becomes necessary are primarily determined by the underlying disease. In a diabetic foot, the pain-mediated nerve fibers are often damaged or destroyed, so that despite a pronounced tissue injury or inflammation in the toe(s), there is often little or no pain felt. On the other hand, many patients tend to complain of tingling sensations such as “formication” or numbness in the feet.

In addition, restricted movement of the foot can be an accompanying symptom. If arteriosclerosis such as the “window-dressing disease” pAVK (peripheral arterial occlusive disease) is the underlying condition, pain is often the main symptom. However, there is often a mixed picture of the diseases, so that the accompanying symptoms can be very different.

Toe amputation is performed under anesthesia, so that no pain is felt. After the amputation, the surgical procedure may cause pain, which can usually be treated with painkillers. If the tissue heals without complications, the pain usually subsides within a few days.

In very rare cases, phantom pain occurs after weeks to months, which means that pain in the toes is perceived that is no longer there. In addition, the underlying disease that made the toe amputation necessary often progresses. After an initial improvement, pain in the rest of the foot may reappear. In any case, reoccurring or increasing pain in the feet should be clarified promptly by a medical examination and assessment.