Living with A Partial Foot Amputation
Any amputation of the foot can impact a person’s ability to stand and walk, but often with the right partial foot prosthesis you can return to living your life as you did before. The most common causes for amputations of the foot are diabetic foot syndrome, traumatic injuries and circulatory disorders. It’s important to take care of your feet, examine them daily and see a specialist if you notice cracks or wounds.
There are varying levels of partial foot amputation, such as toe (digit) amputation, transmetatarsal, Lisfranc and Chopart amputations. All types require a few recovery days without putting any weight on the foot following the surgery. A physiotherapist can help with mobility training and developing a sense of feeling in your residual foot so you can learn to walk safely with a prosthesis.
Treatment Options
If you’ve undergone a partial foot amputation, a custom-shaped insole with a foam toe filler may be sufficient to help you regain your mobility. For a more cosmetic appearance, a silicone partial foot prosthesis could also be a good option, although they are typically a more expensive option. Other types of prostheses might incorporate high-strength materials such as carbon fiber or may be combined with an ankle-foot-orthosis to increase durability and performance for active users. No matter the type, having a prosthesis should allow you to wear conventional shoes and walk longer distances thanks to the flexible material, increased stability and even distribution of pressure over the entire surface of your residual foot.
According to Ottobock, a partial foot prosthesis is suitable to wear if:
- The amputation wound has fully healed
- The residual limb is capable of bearing weight
- The residual limb volume is stable
A prosthesis should be ruled out only if the residual limb is subject to pronounced swelling, but otherwise it can be the solution to restoring a lot of your mobility. There are advantages to wearing a partial foot prosthesis that supports your everyday movements, increases muscle activity and improves blood flow. Because the socket is precisely adapted to your residual limb, it optimizes the fit compared to other treatments.