We pursued a orthopaedic surgery
negligence claim for Beth who's surgeon damaged an artery and
vein during knee surgery. We settled the claim for
£19,000.
Beth, aged 37, attended the Accident & Emergency Department
(A&E) of the Royal Free Hospital in February 1995. She had
been unable to straighten her right knee for two
days.
X-rays showed she had an acute locked knee and she was admitted
for an urgent arthroscopy, which is an examination and sometimes
treatment of damage of the interior of the knee joint through
a small incision.
During the surgery, the orthopaedic surgeon found a large
bucket-handle tear to the lateral meniscus (cartilage in the
knee). When repairing this, the surgeon damaged Beth's
popliteal artery and vein.
Beth subsequently developed a deep vein thrombosis and
arterio-venous fistula. She had to undergo further
surgery to also needed a vein graft.
Beth now suffers from pain and discomfort in the right leg
due to limitation in blood flow. She was unable to return to
her part-time job at a local school. There is a significant
chance that the vascular supply to the leg will deteriorate during
the next 10 years and that further surgery will be required.
Proceedings were served in February 1998 and a trial date was
fixed for April 1998. But we were able to negotiate an out of court
settlement of £19,000, which Beth was happy to accept.
The case was taken on a no win, no
fee basis and the defendant agreed to pay Beth's legal
costs.