Bed Sores - case report

Medical Negligence Claim: Bed Sore Friction Damage

IN THE MATTER OF :-

S [A Minor]

-v-

CENTRAL MANCHESTER AND MANCHESTER
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CASE REPORT

Background to the Claim

The Claimant was born on the 1st November 1991. Following an operation on her spine for a cyst, the Claimant was paralysed from the chest down and is paraplegic. She has no use of her left hand. She subsequently developed scoliosis of the spine and for some time would wear a body brace to try and correct this. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful in controlling the curvature and eventually she underwent spinal surgery at the Defendant's hospital. As the Claimant grew, further revision of the rods had to take place.

On 26th September 2001, the Claimant was admitted to the Defendant Hospital for spinal rods revision. She underwent surgery the following day.

Post operatively the Claimant was transferred to the high dependency unit. Shortly after transfer to the HDU, the Claimant was put in a semi-upright position, with a view to preventing the development of any chest infection. On the 28th September 2001, the Claimant was transferred from the HDU to a ward on her bed, remaining in the same position. The Claimant remained in a semi-upright position until the 30th September 2001. She was not turned, nor was her position changed.

On the 30th September 2001, the Claimant's mother was about to administer a phosphate enema to enable the Claimant to open her bowels, when she noted an area of skin and tissue damage on the Claimant's buttocks. This was drawn to the attention of the nursing and subsequently medical staff.

The Claimant was examined by a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the 3rd October 2001. On the 17th October 2001, the Claimant underwent a further procedure under general anaesthetic to obtain a skin graft on her right thigh. She remained in hospital and was discharged home on the 30th October 2001. When the Claimant returned home, she was unable to return to school and remained under review with the hospital on complete bed rest, until re-admission to Booth Hall Hospital for further surgery on the 22nd March 2002. She underwent a third operation for a rotational skin graft to cover what was described in the nursing notes as a bed sore area.

The Claimant's Allegations

The Claimant alleged that the Defendant was negligent in failing to monitor the condition of the Claimant's skin in the period following her operation. In particular, the Defendant failed to turn the Claimant with sufficient regularity or re-position her, in order to avoid the development of the bed sore or friction damage.

It was alleged that with appropriate care, the development of skin tissue damage would not have occurred.

The Claimant's Injuries

As a result of the Defendant's negligence, the Claimant sustained skin tissue damage to her right buttock, which required a skin graft on 17th October 2001, followed by further surgery on 22nd March 2002.

The Claimant was unable to return to school until September 2002. The Claimant has also been left with a large scar around her buttocks. She has no sensation below the chest as a result of her original presenting condition. She therefore experienced no pain as a result of the injuries caused by the Defendant's negligence.

Special Damages

The Claimant sought past care of £8,547.00. Additional food costs of £878.00. Bedding, heating and utility costs and a laptop.

The Claimant's Expert Evidence

The Claimant relied on the evidence of Mr R Bryson, Consultant Plastic Surgeon who concluded that except for the scarring there were no long term consequences of the Defendant's negligence.

The Claim

The Trust admitted negligence with regard to the development of the pressure sore in a letter dated the 2nd July 2003.

The matter was subsequently settled and approved by the Court for the sum of £20,000.00, plus the Claimant's reasonable legal costs. General Damages for loss of amenity, pain and suffering were estimated at approximately £12,500.00

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