My 69 year old diabetic father had his 4th & 5th toes & part of his foot amputated due to a staph infection from an open sore on the bottom of his foot. He is scheduled to have skin graphing done w/in a few days after new tissue is produced using a vac pump. His dr. wants to amputate the remaining 3 toes claiming he will function better (balance), even though it isn't medically necessary. Has anyone experienced this??
2007-02-18 14:28:20 · 2 answers · asked by Nicki 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
The region just below 4th & 5th toes was amputated. Wouldn't 2 areas of balance be better than just the sole of the foot (1 area)?
2007-02-18 14:59:22 · update #1
I'm supprised he didn't just take the whole foot off. I don't see how not having any toes would make it better for you to balance yourself... I would get a second opinion.
2007-02-18 14:35:45 · answer #1 · answered by untuhchabul 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on which part of the foot was amputated. Your balance is based on three centres: the ball of the big toe, the heel and the region just below the 4th and fifth toes. If the region just below the 4th and 5th toes were removed, then you end up balancing on a difficult line defined by just two points. Removing the big toe region, however, allows you to balance on the entire sole of the foot, making it more stable. That is the theory - I suspect that if you got a second opinion another doctor would advise against it.
2007-02-18 22:46:32 · answer #2 · answered by Testaco 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋