Botched Osteotomy Procedure to Relieve Chronic Foot Pain Results in Significant Damages

Case Overview

This case involves a 37-year-old female patient who presented to her foot doctor complaining of throbbing pressure and pain in her right foot and heel. The patient underwent an osteotomy procedure to relieve chronic foot pain. However, the patient never improved from surgery and experienced continued chronic pain in the bottom of her foot and in her heel. On evaluation by another podiatrist, the first metatarsal head was noted to be quite prominent when the patient’s toe was extended to the MTP joint. The patient could no longer plantar flex her toe beyond parallel with the plantar aspect of the foot. It was determined at this point that the patient needed an additional surgery to correct the previous surgical intervention. The patient underwent a corrective procedure that included an extensive capsular release of the MTP joint and removal of plate and screws first metatarsal osteotomy. The patient still has an intrinsic residual minus position from injury to her flexor brevis muscle. She still has significant prominence under her first metatarsal head and has intermittent shooting pains that seem neuritic in nature.