Botched Foot Surgery Causes Chronic Pain

This case takes place in Georgia and involves a male patient who presented to the hospital for surgery based upon the recommendation of his podiatrist for the removal of a large bunion on his right foot. He experienced significant problems following this initial surgery, which required a second surgery performed by the same podiatrist some months later. It was at this point that the patient was diagnosed with significant nerve damage stemming from his initial surgery. As a result of this nerve damage, the man suffered serious and continual pain, and he has seen several different podiatrists in order to find an effective treatment. It is alleged that the procedure used by the original podiatrist was unusual and that the patient’s nerve damage was caused by negligence on the part of the original doctor.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Do you routinely treat patients similar to the one described in the case?

2. Have you ever had a patient develop the outcome described in the case?

3. Based on the brief case summary, was there anything in the initial procedures that could be potential causes of the pain suffered by the patient?

Expert Witness Response E-010568

I routinely treat patients with the original complaint described by the patient in this case. I see results of his subsequent surgeries with salvage procedures on diabetics and patients with bone infections. I have two diabetic patients in my practice at this time for whom I have removed bunions in the same area of the foot. The procedure that was done is a very simple procedure and only done as a salvage procedure. Additionally, when this bone is removed an imbalance results which causes further problems, including contracture of the digit. This particular surgery is not a popular procedure, and it is certainly plausible that they could have been the reason for requiring additional surgery. I have consulted and been involved on many legal cases as an expert witness in my discipline.