A $500,000 trial verdict in a case involving a post-operative infection following podiatric surgery to repair hammer toes and a bunion.  Plaintiff alleged that she exhibited multiple signs of post-operative infection and the defendant podiatric surgeon failed to culture the drainage from the wound.  Had he done so, the bacterial source of the infection would have been identified and appropriate antibiotics could have been prescribed.  As a result of the delay in diagnosing and treating her infection, the infection was permitted to advance into the bone of her toe, a condition called osteomyelitis, and she was required to be hospitalized for surgery to clean out the infection and for intravenous antibiotics.  The defendants argued that a culture was not required and that it was appropriate to treat her with broad spectrum antibiotics.  They further argued that she did not have osteomyelitis.  However, the jury was convinced that she did have osteomyelitis because of the testimony of the non-party surgeon who performed her subsequent surgery to clean out the infection.  The jury was further convinced that the wound drainage should have been cultured to determine appropriate treatment and prevent advancement of the infection.