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Unfortunately, a percentage of bunionectomies fail, leaving patients with ongoing pain and complications. If you find yourself grappling with serious issues post-bunionectomy and suspect it is due to podiatric negligence, now is the time to seek legal counsel. The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, P.C. is dedicated to advocating for victims of podiatric malpractice. Lead attorney Larry Karam has decades of experience and a proven track record of success.
Why Patients Have Bunionectomies?
While some patients consider bunionectomies for aesthetic reasons alone, others choose elective surgery because their bunions are causing them significant discomfort and interfering with normal foot function. Common intrusive symptoms of bunions include pain, swelling, redness, and restricted movement of the big toe. As the bunion progresses, it can lead to difficulties with walking, wearing shoes, and engaging in physical activities.
What Does Bunion Surgery Involve?
A bunionectomy is not a simple procedure. It requires a skilled practitioner who is highly trained, experienced, and has the skill set to:
- Realign the bones making up the big toe joint
- Make the small cuts necessary in the soft tissues
- Reshape the affected joint
- Fuse the big toe joint – in some cases – at the mid-foot region (Lapidus procedure)
- Cutting off the “bunion bump” on the side and sometimes the top of the joint
If this sounds like a complicated process, that’s because it is. All the more reason for the doctor performing the surgery to be meticulous.
Types of Bunionectomy Failure
In such an intricate procedure, the doctor must be careful as well as capable
to prevent any of the following types of failed surgeries:
Undercorrection
Undercorrection occurs when the bunion deformity is not adequately addressed during surgery, allowing misalignment and discomfort to persist. The patient may continue to experience ongoing pain, limited range of motion in the big toe, and with the bunion not eliminated.
Overcorrection
Overcorrection occurs when too much bone is removed or the alignment is excessively corrected, resulting in instability and deformity of the big toe joint. This often results in a “hallux varus” where the big toe is angled away from the smaller toes. Patients may experience toe joint stiffness, difficulty bearing weight on the affected foot, and may develop hammertoes or other deformities.
Nonunion/Malunion
Nonunion refers to the failure of the bone to heal properly after surgery, leading to persistent pain and instability.
Malunion occurs when the bone heals while incorrectly positioned, resulting in ongoing deformity and functional impairment.
Complications Like Arthritis, Necrosis, and Nerve Pain
Some patients experience one or more of these complications after Lapiplasty® (the most recently developed type of bunion surgery).
How a Doctor’s Negligence Can Cause a Failed Bunionectomy
To prove your medical negligence, we must demonstrate that the doctor did not live up to the standards of a competent medical professional and that their mistake or lapse in judgment caused you physical and/or emotional harm in addition to financial damages. Your doctor may have:
- Failed to properly assess and diagnose the severity of your bunion deformity.
- Failed to adequately remove bone or bone fragments from an incision.
- Failed to properly align the toe joint.
- Failed to properly interpret the x-rays
- Provided inadequate postoperative care, such as appropriate wound management or proper diagnosis and treatment of postsurgical infection.
- Neglected to choose the most effective surgical technique for the situation.
- Failed to get your informed consent, i.e. to make you aware of the risks and potential outcomes of the procedure.
You can rely on Larry Karam to do all the investigative work necessary to prove your doctor’s negligence and to fight tirelessly to bring you the compensation you deserve.
Was Your Bunionectomy a Failure? Contact Larry Karam Now!
If you are experiencing persistent pain or complications following a bunionectomy and believe that medical negligence is to blame, you need immediate legal guidance. In New York, Larry Karam is the right person to call. He concentrates in podiatric malpractice and has in-depth knowledge of his field. Not only is he an excellent attorney specializing in podiatric malpractice; he is also an empathic human being who will charge you no attorney’s fee until he wins your case.