Case study: £1.4m compensation after multiple errors in surgery and treatment result in permanent disability
Our medical negligence solicitors helped a woman claim £1,400,000 in compensation after a series of surgical errors during spinal surgery left her with permanent nerve damage and unable to work.
Background: admission to hospital with spinal cord condition
Our client, Ms T, was admitted to hospital suffering from isthmic spondylolisthesis, a spinal cord condition which caused one of her spinal vertebrae to slip forward onto the vertebra beneath it.
The initial surgery was unsuccessful, and a second operation revealed that the type of implant our client had received had not been correctly recorded during her first operation. As the hospital didn’t have the right surgical instruments to complete the operation, a third procedure was scheduled for two weeks later.
During this operation, it was revealed that the screws inserted in the first operation had come loose. Additional spinal fusion was also required, involving a cage, rods and a bone graft. Only one scan was carried out during the surgery, and this was done before any of the implants were inserted. No scan was conducted to confirm the position of the cage.
Pain after operation
Following the operation, the patient complained of pain in her right leg and hip, as well as numbness and loss of flexibility. She was reassured that this would gradually resolve itself, and she was discharged with no further scans taking place.
Our client continued to experience agonising pain, numbness and heightened sensitivity. Finally, a new X-ray scan confirmed that the cage had shifted position and was pressing down on a nerve root. Further surgery was required to fix this. As a result of the various errors in her surgery, Ms T experienced permanent nerve damage and is now significantly disabled and will be unable to work for the rest of her life.
Claiming compensation for medical negligence
After a thorough investigation of our client’s medical records, our medical negligence solicitors identified appropriate medical experts to assist her and issued a claim for compensation on her behalf.
The claim was supported by the expert medical evidence we obtained and detailed documents setting out Ms T’s past and future losses, including her lost earnings, pain, suffering and additional needs created by her disability.
The hospital trust initially admitted it was at fault, but subsequently attempted to backtrack on this. However, our team opposed this fiercely in court and their application was dismissed.
The claim was settled out of court for £1,400,000, which we hope will go some way to helping Ms T rebuild her life.
Contact our medical negligence solicitors
If you have suffered as a result of surgical errors, our clinical negligence lawyers may be able to help you claim compensation. To speak to a member of our friendly team, call 0117 325 2929 or fill out our enquiry form.