title: Minimum-incision ray resection.
abstract: Ray resection for localized necrosis, infection, and osteomyelitis is an accepted procedure allowing removal of the diseased toe and metatarsal. The traditional approach involves a rather lengthy incision and dissection that can compromise the vascular supply to the remaining forefoot. The use of minimum incision techniques to perform metatarsal ray resection as presented here represents a simple, reliable, and easily reproduced procedure that limits soft-tissue dissection and the associated wound healing-related complications inherent to the traditional approach. Following minimum incision metatarsal ray resection, the resultant defect from the toe amputation can be primarily closed, covered with a split-thickness skin graft, or closed in delayed primary fashion with the use of a mini-external fixation device. The authors present the proper indications and a step-by-step guide for performing minimum incision metatarsal ray resection with and without the supplemental use of mini-external fixation to close the soft-tissue defect about the toe amputation site.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Oznur
authors: Thomas S
authors: TS
authors: Roukis
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D014034:Toes / Q000601:surgery*