Articular Cartilage After Toe Amputation-Protective Barrier or Source of Infection?: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Background: Digital and ray amputations are common surgical treatments for infected bone and traumatic injuries in the foot. When disarticulated, the exposed articular cartilage can be addressed by either leaving the cartilage cap as a "protective barrier" to infection or by remodeling the exposed bone, removing the cartilage to bleeding bone to better fight infection.

Methods: Our objective is to provide the first study in the foot to determine whether leaving exposed articular cartilage after toe amputation results in more returns to surgery and delayed healing.