The number of partial-foot amputations performed is increasing, and many re
commendations have been made regarding the use of prostheses and footwear d
esigned to prevent higher-level amputations in this population. The present
study investigated the use of prostheses and shoe inserts and the types of
footwear worn by partial-foot amputees in the inner city to determine whet
her previous recommendations are being followed as well as whether new pros
thetic styles are being used. The study surveyed 110 patients (73 men and 3
7 women) with a mean age of 58.6 years (range, 21 to 86 years) with partial
-foot amputations of all levels. The results showed that about one-half of
all patients wore a shoe-insert orthosis. Although 54% wore some form of sp
ecial footwear to accommodate and protect the residual foot, no patient in
this study wore a shoe with a rocker-bottom sole. Only one patient with a t
ransmetatarsal amputation used a brace and only one patient in the entire s
tudy wore a modern cosmetic foot prosthesis.