Osteomyelitis, or bone infection, of the foot and ankle often develops due to an open and neglected ulcer. Although it is possible to get a bone infections through the bloodstream from other infected areas of the body, the most common cause in the feet is due to an ulcer and direct infection of the bone.

Previous treatment options for osteomyelitis required removal of the dead bone and, in most cases, amputation of the foot or ankle due to the bone removal. The Foot and Ankle Institute has developed several techniques to allow for removal of the infected bone and delayed grafting or bone transfer to the area of bone removal. This allows for preservation of the foot and ankle and limited to no need for amputation. Although this technique is not for everyone with osteomyelitis, we pride ourselves in our preservation efforts and try to salvage as much, if not all, of the foot and ankle.