Patient Turned to Specialist for Help

Lissette Ramirez lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida. She needed treatment for a serious foot condition and turned to Dr. Stephen Wigley IV. He was a licensed Florida podiatrist who ran two businesses, Wigley Foot and Ankle, LLC, and Wigley Feet, Inc. Both companies offered podiatric services in her area. On August 9, 2021, Dr. Wigley performed a major surgery on Ramirez’s left foot. The procedure involved a Charcot reconstruction, medial column fusion, internal fixation, and Achilles tendon lengthening. The surgery failed to achieve its goals.

When One Surgery Became Several

After the first operation failed, Ramirez returned to Dr. Wigley on July 12, 2022. He performed another surgery to remove hardware, repair tendons, and repeat the fusion. Despite the effort, Ramirez’s condition continued to decline. She then sought treatment elsewhere. On August 22, 2023, Dr. Ettore Vulcano at Mount Sinai Medical Center performed extensive reconstructive surgery. The procedure aimed to correct complications caused by Dr. Wigley’s previous work. By April 2024, Ramirez required yet another surgery, a full ankle fusion. She claimed that the original errors in surgical technique and hardware use led to this series of operations.

Life-Altering Consequences Followed

The impact of these surgeries on Ramirez’s life was profound. She suffered permanent damage to her lower left leg. She experienced pain, disfigurement, and a major loss of func