Decision Report 201609414

Summary

Mr C was referred to the orthopaedic department at Glasgow Royal Infirmary after he suffered with osteoarthritis (chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness and swelling) in the metatarsal phalangeal joint (the second joint from the end) in a toe on his right foot. Surgery was carried out to fuse the joint, but following this Mr C continued to experience pain in the toe. A further procedure was carried out to fuse the interphalangeal joint (the first joint from the end), however, this was not successful and the bones did not fuse together. Surgery was then carried out to remove a broken metal pin from the interphalangeal joint but Mr C continued to experience pain in the toe. After this the board considered that revision surgery was unlikely to be successful and Mr C agreed to the amputation of the toe.

Mr C complained that the first operation was not carried out appropriately. He also raised concern that the board did not provide him with appropriate treatment when he reported ongoing pain, as it had taken over two years following the first operation to resolve his pain. We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. We found that the first procedure was carried out to a reasonable standard, and we did not find evidence that the first surgery had contributed to the issues Mr C subsequently experienced. We considered that the management of Mr C's treatment following the first operation was appropriate, and we did not consider that there was evidence of any unreasonable delays in Mr C's treatment. We did not uphold Mr C's complaints.