A Cook County man is suing a doctor and his practice for allegedly placing screws into both of his feet improperly.
Leonard Aremka filed a complaint June 11 in Cook County Circuit Court against John R. Ham and Bloomingday Foot/Ankle Associates.
On Jan. 17, 2012, Aremka was first consulted by the defendants about his treatment options for problems with his feet. On Feb. 3, 2012, according to the lawsuit, he underwent surgery in Elmwood Park, performed by Ham, which included an arthrodesis, placing screws into a digit of both of his feet. From the surgery until Nov. 27, 2012, Aremka made various complaints about pain, so on Nov. 27, Ham suggested another surgery to remove the screw and "reduce the ligaments of the second digit right foot," the lawsuit states.
On Nov. 30, 2012, he had surgery to remove Metasurg Digfuse screws from the second digit of his left and right foot, and to cut a ligament to reduce contraction. On Dec. 12, Ham removed the surgery dressings and k-wires, and from Jan. 4 to Oct. 15, 2013, Aremka continued to complaint of pain and numbness in his feet. On three occasions, he was treated by Ham with laser therapy.
Finally, on April 1, 2014, Aremka was treat by a different physician, Dr. David Alameda Jr., a podiatrist who determined that further surgery was needed to treat Aremka, the lawsuit states, and properly place the screws in his feet.
The defendant is cited with negligence for failing to advise his patient of all the procedures that would be performed in the initial surgery; get formal consent; properly place the screw implants; perform post-operative X-rays to evaluate the screws' alignment; perform more X-rays to evaluate his progress; refer plaintiff to a pain specialist to rule out causalgia; and use a less excessive amount of narcotic analgesics to treat Aremka's pain.
As a result, the lawsuit states, Aremka suffered further injury and complications, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.
The plaintiff, citing negligence, seeks $100,000, plus costs.
The plaintiff is represented by David P. Cutler and Edwin J. Hull III of Cutler and Hall in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number illegible.