title: Puncture wounds of the foot.
abstract: Puncture wounds often appear benign but can cause significant pedal morbidity. Podiatric physicians who treat such wounds should educate local emergency room, urgent care center, and primary care physicians as to the potential complications associated with puncture wounds. Timely referral, recognition of the potential complications, and appropriate treatment ensure that the wound does not advance beyond a puncture wound. If complications have developed, aggressive treatment is required to eradicate the infection and prevent pedal amputation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Podiatric Surgery, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Peter Lougheed Centre, 3500 26 Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6J4, Canada. brent.haverstock@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Brent D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Haverstock
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005528:Foot; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000209:etiology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*