People considering partial foot amputation surgery now have access to a free resource created by La Trobe University to help them make an informed decision in partnership with healthcare professionals.
A research team led by La Trobe prosthetics expert Associate Professor Michael Dillon launched Amputation Decision Aid – a collection of freely available resources for patients with peripheral arterial disease, and their healthcare professionals, as they decide on partial foot amputation as a treatment.
In Australia, there are more than 13,000 amputations are performed every year because of complications from illnesses. The majority or people have toes of their forefoot removed, with partial foot amputation typically affecting middle aged and older people with diabetes and peripheral arterial disease.
But Associate Professor Dillon said many patients were poorly informed about the surgery, the likely outcomes, as well as the potential for complications.
