Forefoot / Midfoot · Reconstructive · Advanced
Failed Surgery
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
"My bunion came back and it still hurts."
60-year-old female seen in clinic, previously operated on for a bunion.
History of present illness
Had a bunion corrected several years ago and was never happy with the result; the deformity has slowly recurred.
- Throbbing, aching pain over the medial 1st MPJ, worse with walking
- Cannot comfortably wear closed shoes
- Painful callus under the 2nd metatarsal head and the medial hallux
- Wider shoes and padding have not helped
Questions a strong candidate asks at this step
- Location, character, duration of pain; what makes it worse/better
- Details of the prior surgery: when, what procedure, post-op course, complications
- When did the deformity recur?
- Shoe gear and activity limitations
- Conservative care tried (shoes, padding, orthoses, NSAIDs, injections)
- Lesser-toe or 2nd MPJ symptoms
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.