Closure of central defects of the forefoot with external fixation: a case report.

Excision of 1 or more central rays of the foot may complicate soft tissue coverage because large defects may result. The authors presents a technique in which an Ilizarov external fixator was used to narrow the forefoot after resection of the central rays in a patient with diabetes. After external fixator application for 8 weeks, the central defect healed uneventfully and has not shown any recurrence of ulceration after 4 years of follow-up.