Introduction

• Amputation of non-functional or seriously diseased digit.

Uses

• Digital amputation may be required for:
  • Severely comminuted fractures Metacarpus, metatarsus and phalanges: fracture.
  • Intra-articular fractures.
  • Chronic sprains, or recurrent luxations.
  • Severe soft tissue injuries, eg degloving injuries, severed tendons.
  • Marked degenerative joint disease causing pain which is unresponsive to medical management.
  • Neoplasia Digit: neoplasia.
  • Chronic bacterial or fungal infection, eg osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis, onychomycosis Paronychia, which is unresponsive to medical management.
  • Developmental or acquired digital malformation causing pain or lameness.
  • Salvage of a weight-bearing pad or portion of the paw.

Requirements

Preparation

Procedure

Aftercare

Outcomes

Prognosis

• Generally good.
• Guarded when neoplasia is involved.
• Always send affected digit to histolopathology and/or bacterial/fungal culture.

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Probst C W, Millis D L (2003) Digit Amputation. In: Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, 3rd edn, pp 1987. Ed Slatter D, Saunders, Philadelphia.
• Hedlund C S (2002) Digit Amputation. In: Small Animal Surgery, 2nd edn, pp 206-207. Eds Fossum T W, Hedlund C S, Hulse D A, Johnson AL, Seim H B, Willard M D, Carroll G L, Mosby Inc, Missouri.