In early August 2025, a St. Croix woman filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a podiatrist and the podiatry practice where he worked. She alleges that her bunion surgery that was performed on January 21, 2022 resulted in permanent injury, ongoing pain, and misalignment and dislocation of her toes that has resulted in her inability to wear shoes or walk without assistance.
The surgery was intended to address the woman’s acquired hallux limitus and hallux valgus, which are common deformities of the big toe. The woman’s lawsuit alleges that the negligently performed surgery resulted in deformity in her right foot, and she further alleges that the podiatry practice unnecessarily delayed her access to her complete medical records for over two years, which resulted in the delay in obtaining a second opinion that allegedly determined that the original surgery was negligently performed and that as a result, she suffered a misalignment and dislocation of her toes.
Acquired Hallux Limitus and Acquired Hallux Valgus
Acquired hallux (a condition where the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the big toe becomes stiff and difficult to bend, leading to reduced motion) and acquired hallux valgus (commonly known as a bunion, which is a progressive deformity of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the big toe, where the big toe angles outward toward the smaller toes, causing a bony bump on the side of the foot) are progressive conditions of the big toe joint that are often caused by overuse, injury, or inflammatory diseases, and can be exacerbated by structural issues such as fallen arches or improper footwear. Hallux valgus is the most common deformity of the forefoot and toes. These conditions can lead to pain, inflammation, and may worsen over time, eventually requiring treatments ranging from footwear adjustments and orthotics to surgical intervention for significant pain or severe joint degeneration.
Hallux valgus is a relatively common condition, occurring in approximately 23% of adults aged 18 to 65 years and up 36% of adults older than 65 years. Hallux valgus deformity occurs in an high as 30% of adult females. The prevalence is higher in those who wear shoes or heels when compared to the barefoot population. When comparing women and men in barefoot populations, women are found to have hallux valgus deformity twice as often.
Treatment often begins with trying non-surgical approaches such as wider shoes, orthotics, and night splinting. If conservative treatment proves ineffective, surgical management is next recommended. Patients tolerate the surgery well, with bony union usually occurring around 6 to 7 weeks postoperatively. If the patient is a smoker, the healing may take longer. Patients typically return to work approximately 6 to 12 weeks post-surgery although improvement has shown to take up to 1-year post-surgery.
Postsurgical complications vary depending on the surgical procedure and technique. The more common complications include osseous non-union, hematoma, numbness, hardware failure, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, avascular necrosis, hallux varus, limited joint range of motion, and recurrence. Recurrence rates differ based on procedure, ranging from 10 to 47%. The etiology is typically multifactorial but typically includes anatomic predisposition, compliance with postsurgical instructions, medical comorbidities, and poor surgical technique.
If you or a loved one have suffered serious harm as a result of podiatrist malpractice in the United States, you should promptly find a medical malpractice lawyer in your state who may investigate your podiatry medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a podiatrist medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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