Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Sep;89(3):224-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2010.05.025. Epub 2010 Jun 26.

Safety and effectiveness of flexor tenotomies to heal toe ulcers in persons with diabetes

Tyler P Kearney  1 , Nathan A Hunt, Lawrence A Lavery
Affiliations

Safety and effectiveness of flexor tenotomies to heal toe ulcers in persons with diabetes

Tyler P Kearney et al. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous tenotomy of the flexor digitorum longus to heal neuropathic ulcers on the tip of the toe.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 48 patients with 58 tenotomy procedures with diabetes related neuropathy and ulceration at the tip of the toe. Subjects were treated with tenotomy of the flexor digitorum longus. We then evaluated healing of the ulceration and any adverse events including recurrence, infection, healing failure, and amputation.

Results: 98.3% of the ulcerations healed. Mean ulcer healing time was 40+/-52 days. 12.1% had a recurrence of ulceration at the same site. Mean time to recurrence was 13.9 months. Five percent had post-operative soft tissue infection. Two patients had amputation of the digit; both had pre-existing osteomyelitis. Mean follow up was 28 months.

Conclusion: Flexor tenotomy is a safe, simple procedure, which can enhance patients' healing potential with very little risk.

PubMed Disclaimer

LinkOut - more resources