Dr. Michael H. Loshigian (Dr. L) of Metropolitan Foot Group, a podiatrist surgeon, performed bunion surgery on me June 2015. In my opinion, based on what happened, I would not recommend Dr. L for any type of foot surgery. I would only use him for non-surgical procedures.
1.) My 2015 bunion surgery (right foot) had major complications. Originally saw Dr. L for big toe bunion, but he suggested taking care of bunionette (base of little toe, sometimes called tailor's bunion) at same time because in his words, "it won't affect your recovery time at all." Didn't seem like a big deal. I agreed. My mistake.
To be fair, I had used Dr. L in 2012 for left foot bunion surgery (big toe only) & had no complications.
At home, after outpatient surgery, as foot's numbing agent wore off, I felt excruciating pain---like foot being squeezed in a vice. In a panic called Dr. L. He seemed surprised but instructed me to cut outside bandage to relieve some pressure. That and extra pain pills got me through upcoming holiday weekend. Why was my bandage so tight? Didn't Dr L realize swelling would be on both sides of foot? Wouldn't you take this into consideration when wrapping the foot?
2.) Followed Dr. L's recovery directions, although in hindsight there weren't many. Stayed home over 2 months before going back to work. Dr. L was very familiar with my occupation--necessary to be on feet a lot. No instructions to cut back work, stay off feet, etc. After 5 days at work (wearing thick soled sneakers) felt pain in right foot. Follow-up tests showed stress fracture in my 2nd metatarsal. How did this happen?? There was NO trauma at work to cause this!
Back into cam boot again. Followed up w/Dr. L religiously, but foot wasn't getting better. My last appt was Dec 2015. His normally laid-back, talkative manner was stifled as he informed me that follow-up tests showed 2nd metatarsal BONE HAD SHIFTED DURING HEALING. You could actually see the bone sticking up on top of foot. I was bearing NO weight on my second toe. Now 3rd metatarsal was in jeopardy of stress fracture due to increased pressure. Bottom line--I needed corrective surgery! Dr. L was very uncomfortable & couldn't wait to get out of the room. As long as things were running smoothly he was fine.
No way would I trust Dr. L to operate again. Took a YEAR to find orthopedic foot specialist who 1.) had the skill & willingness to correct--as they saw it---bunion surgery gone bad; and 2.) who took my insurance. Found foot specialist but so booked it took 6 months to get initial appointment & 5 months to get first open surgery date. Another year!
After talking to MANY orthopedic surgeons, found out I have what's called Morton's Foot, which is VERY common. It means 2nd toe is longer than big toe (Look at feet on Greek & Roman statues!) As doctors explained to me, during bunion surgery my big toe was compromised thereby disturbing the proper mechanics of my foot. In my gait the 2nd metatarsal had to move to compensate. (Maybe the bunnionette surgery was part of this? It's all intertwined.) DID Dr. L EVEN REALIZE ANY OF THIS? To restore proper foot mechanics, corrective surgery had to cut into 2nd, 3rd, AND 4th metatarsals, re-positioned them, & affixed metal plates/screws to all 3 toes.
3.) To add insult to injury: Metropolitan Foot Group incorrectly billed me for more expensive pneumatic cam boot, which I did not receive. AND billed amount was 4X what you could buy it on Amazon for!
It's almost 1 1/2 years AFTER corrective surgery: I permanently live with numbness, tingling, uncomfortable swelling on bottom of foot, loss of toe movement, & 2 unsightly scars on top of foot. Cannot walk barefoot on any hard surface. Will never be able to wear high heels again. Foot aches if I over-use it. Can no longer jump, jog, or speed-walk. Yoga (my passion) is compromised because lack of bending toes & problems balancing on foot.
My parting words....buyer beware. read more