Management of Open Injuries of the Foot: Current Concepts

Abstract

ABSTRACTOpen fractures of the foot are rare, and a few surgeons see the whole spectrum of these injuries. When confronted with open injuries of the foot, the decision to salvage the foot needs to be taken after thorough assessment of bony and soft tissue injuries and the associated life-threatening injuries. Foot and ankle surgeon, plastic surgeon, and vascular surgeon must work as a team to provide a pain-free functional and plantigrade foot that fits into a conventional shoe or a brace.Aggressive debridement and wound management remains the cornerstone of modern surgical treatment. If debridement and wound management can convert a contaminated traumatic wound into a clean surgical wound, which can be adequately covered within 7 to 10 days, then definitive skeletal fixation is advised. In the presence of severe soft tissue and bony injuries, the reconstruction needs to be staged and planned to match the unique personality of the patient and injury.Amputation can be a positive step toward decreasing the overall morbidity in the presence of severe injury and poor host biology. Despite appropriate treatment, the prognosis of the patient with severe open foot injuries remains guarded.How to cite this articleVohra R, Singh A, Singh KK, Singh I, Singh N, Bansal A. Management of Open Injuries of the Foot: Current Concepts. J Foot Ankle Surg (Asia-Pacific) 2016;3(1): 28-40.