Operative Treatment of Infections in the Foot and Ankle

Treatment of infections of the foot and ankle, similar to other areas of orthopaedics, often require operative treatment to remove infected tissue and bone, and potentiate the effectiveness of antibiotic management. Owing to the presence of patient comorbidities such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, a seemingly minor infection can result in major morbidity and even mortality in patients already having infections in the foot and ankle. In this article, we focus on the general principles of irrigation and debridement for treating foot or ankle infections or infections of both, and discuss treatment strategies for septic ankle arthritis and periprosthetic ankle joint infections following total ankle arthroplasty. Additionally, we add tips and techniques based on our experience in treating a variety of situations involving the patient with infected foot and ankle.