The Safety and Effectiveness of the Percutaneous Flexor Tenotomy in Healing Neuropathic Apical Toe Ulcers in the Outpatient Setting.

Percutaneous flexor tenotomy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves cutting one or both flexor digitorum tendons underneath the toe. It is an alternative to open surgical procedures performed in an operating theatre. This project is a prospective case series investigating the utility, effectiveness, and participant satisfaction of the percutaneous flexor tenotomy when performed in the outpatient setting. People with diabetes, digital flexion deformity, and loss of protective sensation with an apical ulcer or preulcerative lesion presenting to the Austin Health Foot Ulcer Specialist Outpatient Clinic were enrolled in the study. The procedure was performed under sterile technique with an 18-gauge needle or fine scalpel blade. Participants were reviewed weekly until the incision and/ or ulcer healed. Participants were then followed up at 3 and 6 months. Time to ulcer healing, reulceration rate, frequency of complications, and patient satisfaction were recorded. There were 11 toe ulcers and 41 preulc...