Bunion Compensation Claims
If your bunion surgery was performed negligently, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation. To find out more, contact a medical negligence solicitor today.
What is a bunion?
A bunion (or a 'hallux valgus' in medical terms) occurs when the big toe drifts away from the midline, in towards the centre of the foot. This places increased pressure on the head of the first metatarsal (the bone in the foot which connects to the big toe) which is exacerbated by the compression caused by shoe wear. As a result the joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal begins to protrude from the side of the foot. This overgrowth is known as a bunion.
Treating bunions
There are conservative forms of bunion treatment, such as modifying shoe wear and applying bracing. But none of these have any lasting effect and do not correct the deformity. It is also the case that more often than not the deformity will progress with time, although the rate at which this happens will vary from person to person.
The only treatment that actually corrects a bunion is surgical intervention. There are over 130 different forms of surgical procedures that can be undertaken. The choice of intervention depends upon co-existing problems such as arthritis, whether there is any evidence of growth still being present, generalised patient factors such as vascular disease and the degree of deformity. The more severe the deformity, the more complex the correction required.
Bunion surgery
Bunion surgery essentially has three component parts: firstly, the removal of the bunion, secondly, the balancing of soft tissues, and lastly, the division and reorientation of one or more of the bones in the big toe. Depending upon the technique employed, all three of these may be utilised. For some surgical techniques, only one of two of them may be required.
Generally, the outcome from bunion surgery is very good, although recovery periods are often prolonged with swelling be present for up to six months. Success rates are in the order of 80% to 85%. It is also the case that the younger the person is when the bunion surgery is performed the more likely there is to be a long-term recurrence, since this is a genetic condition.
Negligent bunion surgery
However, there are unfortunately times when a patient undergoes bunion surgery, only to be left with more complications than before. If this is due to the negligence of the surgeon, there could be grounds for a compensation claim. This might arise, for example, because metal screws and pins were inserted in the wrong place, because too much bone was removed, or because the correct procedure was not performed.
If you believe you could be in a position to claim compensation for negligent bunion surgery, contact a medical negligence solicitor without delay.
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Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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