Gait Improvement and Ulcer Prevention With Second-to-Great Toe Transposition at the Donor Site: A Case Report

A young male patient, who sustained a severe burn injury 6 years ago, received amputation of left hand at the level of metacarpal shaft of the thumb and base of proximal phalanxes of the rest of the fingers. Staged operations, including combined second- and third-toe transfer from the right foot to middle and ring fingers of the left hand, and harvest of great toe from the left foot for reconstruction of left thumb, were successively executed. Unfortunately, callus and ulcer were found at the plantar area of first metatarsophalangeal joint of left donor foot in the following 2 years, which caused troublesome disturbance during ambulation. We hereby present how second toe transposition can decrease the donor foot pain and prevent the recurrence of plantar ulcer after 21 months of follow-up.