Introduction
Toe amputation is the surgical removal of one or more toes. If the tissue is so damaged by a disease or injury that there is no longer any chance of the toe being able to heal, a toe amputation is recommended. Otherwise, the toe may rot and become inflamed, so that in the worst case, life-threatening blood poisoning may occur.
Causes
The causes that lead to the necessity of toe amputation are usually diseases in which the supply of nutrients to the tissue is disturbed. An amputation becomes necessary when the toe can no longer be preserved and would otherwise die. The most common cause is the basic disease diabetes mellitus (“diabetes”).
In particular, if the disease is not treated adequately, the small blood vessels and nerves are destroyed over time, so that the toes in particular, as the last section of the foot, are no longer sufficiently supplied with nutrients. An equally common cause that can lead to toe amputation is the so-called “shop window disease” (peripheral arterial occlusive disease; PAD). This disease, which is mainly caused by smoking and high blood pressure, leads to increasing calcification of the blood vessels in the arms and legs.
At some point, not enough blood and thus oxygen and nutrients reach the toes, so that they also die if they are not amputated. You can find the causes of this occlusive disease in our article pAVK – These are the causes! In both of the above-mentioned causes, other parts of the foot or lower leg are often also affected and more radical operations must be performed.
In contrast to the chronic diseases mentioned above, an accident or other injury to one or more toes may occasionally require a toe amputation. Do you suffer from a wound on your foot that does not heal? An equally common cause that can lead to a toe amputation is the so-called “window dressing disease” (peripheral arterial occlusive disease; PAD).
In this disease, which is mainly caused by smoking and high blood pressure, the blood vessels in the arms and legs become increasingly calcified. At some point, not enough blood and thus oxygen and nutrients reach the toes, so that they also die if they are not amputated. You can find the causes of this occlusive disease in our article pAVK – These are the causes!
In both of the above-mentioned causes, other parts of the foot or lower leg are often also affected and more radical operations must be performed. In contrast to the chronic diseases mentioned above, an accident or other injury to one or more toes may occasionally require a toe amputation. If you suffer from a wound on your foot that does not heal?in the case of a diabetic foot, it may occasionally be necessary to amputate one or more toes.
However, a decision to amputate is only made when all other treatment measures are not sufficient to preserve the toe or toes. The most important measure to prevent the development of a diabetic foot and the need for amputation is to treat the condition as best as possible. In addition to a healthy diet and physical activity, drug treatment and regular medical check-ups are important for this.
Should a diabetic foot with open wounds occur, these must be treated professionally as best as possible. Only if there is no prospect of healing, an amputation of one or more toes may be necessary. Do you suffer from diabetes? The following articles will tell you how to best treat your diabetes:
- Therapy of diabetes
- Nutritional recommendations for diabetes
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