Foot & Limb Salvage

Foot and limb salvage can prevent an amputation if you suffer a traumatic lower body injury or have severe diabetes or vascular disease. Crossroads Podiatry in Newnan, Georgia, experienced podiatrist Everett J. Mason III, DPM, specializes in foot and limb salvage. His knowledge and surgical expertise ensure positive treatment outcomes and few risks. Call the office to request a foot and limb salvage consultation today, or book an appointment online.

What is foot and limb salvage?

Foot and limb salvage is a type of surgery that saves your leg or foot from amputation. 

During the procedure, Dr. Mason uses special tools to remove pieces of infected or dead tissue. Then, he uses bone grafts or implantable devices, such as pins, plates, or screws, to restore stability to your lower body and help you walk. 

Why would someone need foot and limb salvage?

There are various medical conditions that may benefit from foot and limb salvage, including:

• Bone cancer 
• Diabetic neuropathy (permanent nerve damage)
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Trophic ulcer (a skin lesion caused by external trauma)

Dr. Mason uses foot and limb salvage to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) as well. CLI affects blood flow to a specific part of your body, such as your legs or feet. If oxygenated blood can’t reach those parts of the body, you’re more likely to experience pain, tissue loss, and gangrene.

What happens during foot and limb salvage surgery?

Dr. Mason performs foot and limb salvage surgery at a nearby hospital or surgical facility.

On the day of the procedure, you change into a gown and lie down on an operating table. A specialist administers general anesthesia, causing you to fall asleep. 

When the anesthesia sets in, Dr. Mason uses surgical tools to make a series of small incisions and removes damaged or diseased tissue from around your affected limb, leaving only healthy tissue behind. 

He replaces your bone and tissue with an implant, which can be a bone graft or artificial prosthesis. Then, Dr. Mason uses pins, rods, or plates to hold the graft or the prosthesis in position. He closes the incision and moves you to a recovery room for observation. 

What is recovery like after foot and limb salvage?

After foot and limb salvage surgery, you stay in the hospital for several days. During that time, Dr. Mason monitors your wound, cleaning it and changing your dressings daily. 

When you’re discharged from the hospital, Dr. Mason prescribes oral antibiotics, pain medication, and topical wound care products. He also explains how to clean and dress your wound, reducing your risk of infection.

Once your surgical wounds finish healing, you enroll in physical therapy. Physical therapy uses stretches and strengthening exercises to restore your mobility, range of motion, and independence.

Call Crossroads Podiatry to learn more about foot and limb salvage today or book an appointment online.