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Foot Surgery
Conditions, Procedures, Risks, and Potential Complications with the Baltimore Foot Surgery Lawyer
Welcome to the Kopec Law Firm’s comprehensive guide on foot surgeries. In this website page, we will discuss various foot conditions that may require surgical intervention, the procedures involved, as well as the associated risks and potential complications. With foot surgeries are generally safe and effective, there is a possibility of risks and complications from surgical errors, which we will address in detail. Accordingly, it is important to consult with the Baltimore foot surgery lawyer.
Anatomy of the Foot
The human foot is a complex structure that has 26 bones, 33 joints, and also over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It divides into three main sections: the hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot.
Hindfoot
The hindfoot is the most posterior part of the foot and has two bones:
- Talus: This bone sits above the calcaneus and articulates with the tibia and fibula of the lower leg. It specifically plays a crucial role in ankle movement.
- Calcaneus: This is the largest bone in the foot and forms the heel. It is responsible for transmitting weight to the ground.
Midfoot
The midfoot consists of five bones known as the tarsals. These bones are:
- Navicular: This bone is located on the medial side of the foot and articulates with the talus and the cuneiforms.
- Cuboid: This bone is on the lateral side of the foot and articulates with the calcaneus, the navicular, and also the fourth and fifth metatarsals.
- Cuneiforms: These are three bones (medial, intermediate, and lateral) located on the medial side of the foot and articulate with the navicular and the metatarsals.
The Baltimore foot surgery lawyer can advise you concerning the specific part of the foot that the doctor operated on.
Forefoot
The forefoot is made up of the metatarsals and phalanges.
- Metatarsals: These are five long bones that form the arch of the foot. They are specifically numbered 1-5, starting from the medial side of the foot.
- Phalanges: These are the bones of the toes. There are 14 phalanges in the foot, with three phalanges in each toe except for the big toe, which has two.
The bones of the foot are held together by a network of ligaments and tendons, which provide stability and allow for movement. The foot also has a complex system of muscles that control the movement of the toes and the arch of the foot.
Specific Foot Surgeries
- Bunionectomy:
- Condition: Firstly, bunions are bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe, causing pain and deformity.
- Procedure: A bunionectomy involves removing the bony prominence and realigning the affected joint. This may include shaving the bone, repositioning tendons, or inserting screws or plates for stability.
- Risks and Complications: Last, potential risks include infection, nerve damage, recurrence of the bunion, stiffness, and prolonged healing time. The Baltimore foot surgery lawyer can explain each of the complications in more detail during your free consultation.
- Hammertoe Surgery:
- Condition: Hammertoe is a deformity where one or more toes bend abnormally, resembling a hammer.
- Procedure: Hammertoe surgery typically involves releasing or repositioning the affected tendons and ligaments, and then sometimes removing a small piece of bone.
- Risks and Complications: Risks associated with hammertoe surgery include infection, nerve damage, recurrence of the deformity, stiffness, and delayed wound healing.
- Plantar Fascia Release:
- Condition: Plantar fasciitis is a common condition characterized by inflammation of the plantar fascia, subsequently causing heel pain.
- Procedure: Plantar fascia release involves partially cutting the plantar fascia ligament to relieve tension and reduce pain.
- Risks and Complications: Potential risks include infection, nerve damage, arch collapse, heel pad atrophy, and incomplete pain relief. The Baltimore foot surgery lawyer can give you advice on the specific injury you have suffered.
Additional Foot Surgeries:
- Achilles Tendon Repair:
- Condition: Achilles tendon rupture occurs when the strong tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone tears.
- Procedure: Achilles tendon repair involves reattaching the torn ends of the tendon, either through open surgery or minimally invasive techniques.
- Risks and Complications: Risks include infection, nerve damage, re-rupture, delayed healing, stiffness, and calf weakness.
- Neuroma Excision:
- Condition: Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition specifically caused by the thickening of tissue around a nerve leading to the toes.
- Procedure: Neuroma excision involves removing the affected nerve or releasing the pressure on the nerve.
- Risks and Complications: Consequently, potential risks include infection, nerve damage, stump neuroma (regrowth of the nerve), persistent pain, and altered sensation.
Next Step: Call the Baltimore Foot Surgery Lawyer
Foot surgeries address various conditions and can improve quality of life. It is important to understand the potential risks and complications associated with each surgery.
If you have been injured as a result of a foot surgery, visit the free consultation page or video. Then contact the Kopec Law Firm at 800-604-0704 to speak directly with Attorney Mark Kopec. He is a top-rated Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer. The Kopec Law Firm is in Baltimore and pursues cases throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.