Long-term results of salvage surgery in severely injured feet.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of our study was to analyze the long-term outcome of salvage surgery in severely injured feet.


METHODS
Clinical-functional scores and radiographic findings were used to assess the outcome of 18 patients (19 feet) with severe trauma to the foot treated at a tertiary teaching hospital from January, 1985 to October, 2005. Fourteen males and four females with a mean age of 35 years were studied. The mean followup period was 76 months.


RESULTS
There was a high incidence of late complications and poor functional results (mean AOFAS = 68/100): chronic pain, 15 of 19 (mean analogical pain score 3.4/10); global foot stiffness, 11 of 19 (with radiographic evidence of arthritis of the remaining foot joints in 13 of 19); residual deformity, 13 of 19; arterial-venous insufficiency, 12 of 19; signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, seven of 19; chronic ulcers, six of 19; and chronic osteomyelitis, two of 19. Twelve patients had a visible limp and only 8 of 19 returned to work.


CONCLUSIONS
Five years after severe foot injury most patients had painful stiffness and only 40% returned to work. Long-term clinical-functional results of the severely injured foot may be disappointing.
Ferreira
Ricardo C
RC
Foot and Ankle Division, Santa Casa Medical School, Orthopaedics, Rua Barata Ribeiro 380, cj 64, Bela Vista, São Paulo, SP 01308-000, Brazil. ceckley@unisys.com.br
Sakata
Minoru A
MA
Costa
Marco T
MT
Frizzo
Gastão G
GG
Santin
Roberto A L
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome