Can I Make a Claim Against My Orthopaedic Surgeon?

Orthopaedic Injuries and Clinical Negligence Claims

An Orthopaedic injury relates to any injury of the bones, muscles and joints. As you can imagine every day people suffer injuries which result in them requiring care from an orthopaedic expert. Orthopaedic injuries are very common and include:

•Broken or fractured bones (such as shoulders, elbows, hands, feet, legs, arms and spinal injuries)
•Hip replacement surgery
•Other reconstructive surgeries
•Sports injuries
•Trauma injuries
•Dislocation of joints
•Infections
•Arthritis in the joints
•Birth deformities

Orthopaedic surgery is a fast paced and rapidly developing area of medicine. Orthopaedic consultants use both surgical and other non-invasive treatments to treat patients. However, these procedures are increasingly more complex as medical practice advances.

Whilst many people with orthopaedic health problems receive successful treatment each year, there has been an increase in the number of people bringing clinical negligence claims arising from medical mistakes made by doctors in this field.

Some of the most common reasons for orthopaedic negligence claims include:

•Inaccurate diagnosis
•Late diagnosis
•Poor treatment of fractures
•Poor operative technique
•Nerve damage
•Damage to the circulatory system during medical procedures
•Inadequate cleaning and dressing of wounds
•Infection
•Misinterpretation of x-rays and other test results
•Disparity in leg length following hip or knee operations

In order to successfully pursue a clinical negligence claim you must prove that you have suffered an orthopaedic injury, that the Hospital has been negligent and that injury was caused as a result of the Hospital's negligence.

In order to prove all of this a specially qualified solicitor will have to review your medical records and instruct an appropriately qualified medical expert who would be prepared to say that the orthopaedic treatment you received was substandard.

It must always be remembered when considering a potential clinical negligence claim that it does not follow that there has been negligence just because you have not achieved a full recovery or where further treatment has been undertaken that was initially not envisaged or recommended. Even the best care can result in a poor outcome for the patient due to the nature of the initial injury or pre-existing features.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of pursuing a clinical negligence claim as a result of orthopaedic intervention, then you should contact an experienced and specialist clinical negligence lawyer, who would be more than happy to provide you with some additional help and guidance on the next steps.