[Surgical treatment of creeping infections of the flexor foot tendons in diabetic patients].

UNLABELLED: The creeping infections of the flexor foot tendons are a common reason for amputation of limbs in diabetic patients. Usually the process starts from the fingers and spreads through their long flexors.

METHODS

Of the total of 149 operated patients, 49 underwent selective removal of the m. flexor hallucis longus tendon, and amputation of the 1st finger. The long flexors of the foot fingers were totally removed through a transmethatarsal amputation in 78 patients, and in 22 the long flexor tendons of the 4 lateral fingers were selectively removed through an oblique foot resection. After this type of surgical operations, limb amputation as a result of losing control over the suppurative-gangrenous process, became necessary in 7 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The infection spreading through the long flexors of the foot fingers in diabetic patients is a serious surgical complication that can only be treated surgically. The method of selective resection and removal of the infected long flexors of the foot fingers allows to avoid the limb amputation in most patients. Following this type of surgical interventions the foot biomechanics and the steadiness of the patient is inconsiderably disrupted.