Duration of healing | Toe amputation

Duration of healing

No general statement can be made about the duration of healing after toe amputation. In the best case, after a complication-free course, the residual limb heals completely within a few weeks. However, toe amputations are often based on a disease that restricts blood circulation and wound healing, such as diabetes mellitus (“diabetes”).

As the disease is often progressive, other parts of the foot, such as the entire forefoot, may have to be amputated. If amputation of the foot becomes necessary, the doctor will decide on an amputation that is as far-reaching as necessary but as minor as possible, depending on the health of the foot. The toe amputation is the amputation with the lowest extent. The disadvantage of this procedure, which is as restrained as possible, is that healing is delayed after the amputation and it can take several months for the wound to heal completely.

Degree of disability

When determining the degree of disability, the individual limitations of a person are always decisive.

• Amputation of a toe and a healing process without complications usually does not lead to any relevant restrictions, so that the intervention does not usually result in any disability.
• An exception is when the big toe has to be amputated, as this is important for the stability of the foot and thus for safe standing and walking. If a big toe is lost, a degree of disability of 10% is usually recognized.
• If all toes of a foot are lost, a degree of disability of 20% is determined.
• If, in extreme cases, all toes of both feet have to be amputated, this results in a degree of disability of 30%.