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Getting bunion surgery can be painful — but when it’s done correctly, it can change your life for the better. However, sometimes, things go wrong. Not every failed bunionectomy is caused by malpractice. Some failed surgeries of this type are the result of patient-related factors. In other cases, the surgeon may have overcorrected the problem or failed to correct it completely. If that happens to you, the results can be devastating.
One of the most common signs of failed bunion surgery is what’s known as “toe drift.” And if you suffer from this affliction, you may be entitled to sue your podiatrist for medical malpractice.
Toe Drift After Bunion Surgery: What Causes It?
After a patient is diagnosed with hallux valgus (a bunion), a podiatrist usually recommends corrective surgery, known as a bunionectomy. The more severe the bunion, the more intense the corrective surgery can be.
A typical bunion removal surgery, however, involves scraping (or, in extreme cases, removing) a part of the metatarsal bone, straightening it out, and holding the bones together with screws. In some cases, a bunionectomy may involve a bone fusion with the medial cuneiform (a small bone beneath the metatarsal).
This procedure, at least on the surface, is pretty straightforward. However, if your podiatrist removes too much of the metatarsal bone during surgery, a hallux varus — commonly known as a “toe drift” — will occur.
Other possible causes of toe drift include:
- A podiatrist removes too much of the fibular sesamoid. The fibular sesamoid is a small bone inside the toe, and it’s located at the ball of your foot. It’s one of the many bones that connect your toes and the rest of your foot with your ankle, and it is partially responsible for keeping your big toe straight. When this bone is removed, your big toe will have difficulty staying straight, and this can cause “toe drift.”
- A podiatrist tightens the soft tissue around the big toe too much. Over-tightening of the soft tissue, including the muscles and tendons, will cause your big toe to “overcorrect” or drift too far in the direction of the other foot.
Toe drift may seem like a minor issue. But if left untreated, it can cause extreme discomfort, cosmetic concerns, and even difficulty walking and balancing. What’s more, trying to correct the toe drift problem without professional medical intervention can place undue stress on the other foot and the rest of the body, causing even more pain and discomfort than before.
This compromised quality of life shouldn’t happen as a result of a simple procedure. And that’s why we’re here to help.
Contact Lawrence M. Karam, P.C. For Your Medical Malpractice Claim
Lawrence M. Karam has over 35 years of experience in dealing with all sorts of medical malpractice claims. From general medical malpractice to dental and podiatric malpractice, our firm prides itself on taking on the toughest cases and fighting vigorously for our clients’ rights.
As a victim of medical malpractice, your focus should be on one thing: your healing. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will handle the legal business of opposing counsel, insurance companies, and the New York court system while you work on the most important thing: getting better.
Lawrence M. Karam, P.C. helps victims in the Five Boroughs, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties get the justice and the compensation they deserve, and we do not receive a fee unless we recover money for you. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. You can discuss your case with a seasoned malpractice lawyer. We can explore your options for moving forward to obtain justice in your case.