SYME Amputation for Foot Infections in Diabetics 

Michael Michailevich, Ehud Lebel, Menachem Itzchaki

Dept. of Orthopedics, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem

Syme ankle disarticulation for foot infections in diabetics with concomitant peripheral vascular disease is often unsuccessful. The need for re-amputation usually results from recurrent infection or ischemia of the posterior heel flap. We present 5 such cases of deep foot infections in diabetics who underwent Syme amputation after failure of local debridement. All patients needed reamputation in 4-18 days for ischemia of the flap.