All patients who undergo any type of foot amputation procedure should get post operative conventional radiographs as a base line study. This will be useful in the future to determine if residual osteomyelitis and subsequent progressive bony destructive change is present. Post operative radiographs are evaluated for soft tissue stump coverage and amputation margins. Amputation edges of bones should be well defined and smooth.
Jagged edges increase risk for soft tissue stump breakdown.
MR imaging of the amputated foot are useful in the evaluation of the residual or recurrent osteomyelitis, as well as soft tissue abnormalities such as seromas and abscesses. PA radiograph demonstrates pointed shards of bone projecting into the soft tissue stump, placing the patient at risk for overlying skin breakdown. Sequential PA radiographs demonstrate progressive osteomyelitis of the first and second rays. The initial radiograph was obtained after amputation of the first toe. The second radiograph was obtained 8 months and demonstrates progressive destructive osteomyelitis involving the 1st metatarsal stump and the sesamoids.