title: Closure of central defects of the forefoot with external fixation: a case report.
abstract: Excision of 1 or more central rays of the foot may complicate soft tissue coverage because large defects may result. The authors presents a technique in which an Ilizarov external fixator was used to narrow the forefoot after resection of the central rays in a patient with diabetes. After external fixator application for 8 weeks, the central defect healed uneventfully and has not shown any recurrence of ulceration after 4 years of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University, Ankary, Turkey. alioznur@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oznur
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokgözoğlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D014034:Toes / Q000601:surgery