Finger or Toe Amputation

What is a finger or toe amputation?

A finger or toe amputation is surgery to remove 1 or more fingers or toes.

When is it used?

Amputation may be used to treat a severe injury, an infection, a poor blood supply, or a tumor.

Examples of possible alternatives to this procedure include:

• taking medicine for an infection.
• using leeches to improve blood flow to the finger or toe.
• choosing not to have treatment, recognizing the risks of your condition.

You should ask your healthcare provider about these choices.

How do I prepare for a finger or toe amputation?

Plan for your care and recovery after the operation, especially if you are to have general anesthesia. Find someone to drive you home after the surgery. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For these reasons, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery.

If you need a minor pain reliever in the week before surgery, choose acetaminophen rather than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. This helps avoid extra bleeding during surgery. If you are taking daily aspirin for a medical condition, ask your provider if you need to stop taking it before your surgery.

Follow any other instructions your provider may give you. If you are to have general anesthesia, eat a light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight and the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.

What happens during the procedure?

You will be given a regional or a general anesthetic. A regional anesthetic numbs part of your body while you remain awake. It should keep you from feeling pain during the operation. A general anesthetic relaxes your muscles, puts you to sleep, and prevents you from feeling pain.

The surgeon will make a cut in the finger or toe and cut through the muscles, bone, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. He or she will sew the blood vessels shut and sew the muscles over the bone for padding. Then the surgeon will cover the muscles with skin. Temporary drains may be left in the cut so blood and fluid can drain.

What happens after the procedure?

• If you had an infection, you may stay in the hospital until the infection is gone, which may take 3 to 7 days.
• You will need to keep your hand or foot raised up higher than your heart.
• You may need a blood transfusion.
• You may have a cast.
• You may need physical or occupational therapy to help you adjust to the loss of your finger or toe.

Ask your healthcare provider what steps you should take and when you should come back for a checkup.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

A source of infection, pain, or cancer will be removed. If your toe or finger had gangrene, removing the finger or toe may stop spread of the infection.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

• There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
• A regional anesthetic may not numb the area quite enough and you may feel some minor discomfort. Also, in rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the drug used in this type of anesthesia. Regional anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia.
• You may have a blood clot that travels to your lungs and blocks an artery in the lungs. You may be given a blood thinner to help prevent this.
• You may experience a complication from a blood transfusion.

You should ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your provider right away if:

• You develop fever.
• You have a lot of pain.
• The wound becomes red, swollen, or warm to the touch or drains pus.

Call during office hours if:

• You have questions about the procedure or its result.
• You want to make another appointment.