Why not just leave it open, possibly with a plate over the resected portion of the foot, shoe with side clips, sole support, and allow it to grow out exposed to air?
I'm with Justin here...... I like to get these closed up just as soon as I can.... keeps all the crap from getting packed back in there and setting up camp all over again..... don't know about you but getting most owners to keep stuff like this clean can be a challenge...... Closed up properly, (like Justin did), it's usually the end of it and will stay in for the duration and will trim off from the bottom as it grows out..... Dave
If this is directed at me, the answer is several..... but not for a few years, as it was the leading cause as to my change in modality.... I used to be leery of closing them up for fear of trapping unseen contaminates in there, but no more.... my success rate went way up after I started closing them up and the grow out rate is noticeably quicker..... (I do use a lot of aluminum "exoskeletons" within my patch packages) Funny, Mike Wildenstein , at the Maine Farrier's Association fall clinc commented on this very subject... he said that they shouldn't be closed up because of the risk of further infection, and then said that he closes them all up as soon as he can....... good enough for him, good enough for me.. Dave
I might leave a smaller one open, but not one this big. That's a #4 size foot to give you an idea. Mainly depend on after care of the customer.
