Washington University Orthopedics

"I sustained a foot injury while playing tennis in April of 2022. I immediately sought medical attention through Wash. U. Orthopedics. That initial visit was the beginning of a difficult medical journey that has left me with severe and permanent nerve damage. I feel that there were critical errors in my surgery by Dr. Jonathan Backus and later by Dr. Susan Mackinnon, who tried (unsuccessfully) to surgically fix the nerve damage. After initial examination by Dr. Baccus, I was told I would need a very proven, straightforward procedure. He asked if he could bring in some medical students for further discussion of my injury. In that discussion (and I suggest with hubris involved), he changed my surgical plan to a much more involved surgery that entailed a major restructuring of my foot. I was taken aback by this change in approach from earlier, as my primary goal was just to regain my walking and moderate exercise goals, given my age of 63 at that time. I did not question his medical counsel and said I would follow whatever professional advice he recommended for me. The surgery was conducted on May 5 in the operating room of the Orthopedic Center Barnes Jewish Hospital. My recovery at home was uneventful, but it was particularly difficult in its duration and lack of mobility. Nothing medically out of the ordinary happened during that recovery. I had additional surgical follow-up appointments and conversations with BJC medical staff over the summer. By Autumn of that year, I had become increasingly concerned that feeling had not returned to my foot, and I was experiencing pain and discomfort. My lower leg and foot were both almost entirely numb and it was very difficult to walk, even short distances. Dr. Bacchus suggested a nerve conduction study which was ultimately performed on November 3rd, 2022 at the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine. The study concluded that the 'right peroneal and sural SNAPs were absent'. Over the next few months, I participated in a many physical therapy sessions and tried various medications to treat the condition in a non-invasion fashion. I was referred to Dr. Susan McKinnon for potential nerve decompressions surgery. On March 28, 2023. Dr. McKinnon performed the decompression procedure at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In her notes she highlights the severity of the nerve damage as follows: “The nerve was as compressed as I have ever seen..." I recovered in a very conservative manner and followed written and verbal instructions. I followed all other recommendations for physical therapy, medication and physical limitations. But the numbness continued at similar levels as before the surgery. In addition to the lack of feeling, my foot drags if I do not consciously try to lift it each step and has an unnatural bow outward. The numbness is always present and gets worse with significant activity. That level of activity is also accompanied by an aching pain that varies between mild and moderate. In summary, I entered the BJC medical system for what I believed to be a simple ligament injury procedure. Almost 24 months later, I am far from the end of a very expensive, painful, professionally disruptive, and dishearten process that has had a huge negative affect on both my personal and professional life. Every step I take is a reminder of what was clearly a failed medical procedure. Was it a poor decision about which surgical procedure was appropriate? Was it an error in the operating room? All I know is that I entered the BJC / Wash U. hospital system as an extremely healthy active person, and I left with a significant handicap that has been hugely disruptive to both my professional and personal life. I’m frustrated, angry and want to make sure no other patient is subject to what I have gone through. I highly recommend you make a different surgical choice than Washington University Orthopedics Don Smith"

"Drs Dy and Aleem are the best! They explained everything professionally and clearly. My problem isn't an easy one and they put me in a way better place than I was under another doc's "care". My problem is far from over but things are way better"