Forefoot / Midfoot · Trauma · Advanced
Warehouse Fall
Podiatric surgery residency interview case. Work through it the way you would at an interview: take the history, ask for the exam and imaging, then commit to a diagnosis and plan.
Chief complaint
"Both of my feet are messed up."
45-year-old male evaluated in the ED after a fall at work.
History of present illness
Fell while working in a warehouse, landing on both feet. Immediate deformity and cramping pain in both legs.
- No head or neck injury, no LOC
- Unable to bear weight on either foot
- Numbness of both great toes
- No open wounds
- Last meal 5 hours ago; tetanus up to date
Questions a strong candidate asks at this step
- Mechanism: height, landing position, axial load vs twisting
- Head/neck/back injury; other injuries (ATLS)
- Pain character — cramping/pain out of proportion (compartment syndrome)
- 6 Ps: numbness, coldness, color change
- Open wounds; NPO and tetanus status
Present the rest of the case
Past history, exam, imaging, assessment, plan and discussion questions, with model answers, are in the interactive trainer. The diagnosis is kept there on purpose so you can practice committing to one.