There has been a huge rise in orthopaedic negligence claims over the past 20 years and it is estimated that they are 2 or 3 times more likely to occur than medical negligence claims brought against the average doctor. This is due in part to a steady rise in complicated trauma cases and also an increase in complex surgery, such as joint replacement.
Some of the reasons for orthopaedic negligence claims include;
- misdiagnosis or late diagnosis
- failure to perform or correctly interpret diagnostic blood tests
- nerve damage
- failure to diagnose and treat a fracture
- damage to circulation
- poor operative technique
- serious wound infection
- inappropriate or substandard treatment of fractures
- failure to order X-rays or scans or to interpret them wrongly
- inadequate cleaning, suturing and dressing of wounds
- failure to recognise the seriousness of a patient’s condition
- making the wrong diagnosis
Fortunately health care in Britain is generally of a high standard, but sometimes things can go wrong. If you have been harmed as a result of incompetence or lack of care or poor judgment you may be able to make an orthopaedic clinical negligence claim. We offer a free advice session on medical negligence law either personally or on the telephone to find out whether you have a good case for compensation and if necessary we can visit you at home or in hospital. We offer both legal aid and the no win no fee scheme in appropriate cases. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for our initial advice session.
If you are unhappy with the treatment you have received, results of the operation or believe the surgeon or hospital has been clinically or medically negligent please contact our specialist clinical negligence team for confidential advice via our online enquiry form or please contact us on 0845 402 0001.
ORTHOPAEDIC NEGLIGENCE CASE
A 17-year-old man was involved in a road traffic accident and sustained a severe fracture of the left tibia and fibula (lower leg). He also complained of hip pain in the same leg but the hip was not examined or X-rayed. After 10 weeks the plaster was removed but weight bearing was very painful. Some weeks later it was noticed that the left leg was shorter than the right and an X-ray revealed a fracture dislocation of the left hip that had been completely missed. He required major surgery to the hip and was left with considerable disability. The case was settled for a large amount as the disability seriously restricted his future job prospects.
