Is Compartment Syndrome Negligent?
Compartment syndrome can cause long-term disability. If you are suffering from this painful condition due to poor medical care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
What is compartment syndrome?
Compartment syndrome occurs when the pressure within a muscle compartment increases. This swelling of the muscles can put pressure on the blood vessels and nerves also present in the compartment. Unfortunately, the surrounding membrane is unable to stretch, causing increasing pain and potential permanent damage. Compression of the blood vessels can reduce the flow of the blood, causing possible damage to the muscle function. Compression of the nerves can also cause on-going dysfunction.
The compression of the muscle compartment needs to be reduced as a matter of emergency to try to protect the long-term function of the nerves and muscles. A patient who is suffering from acute compartment syndrome may, therefore, require immediate surgery.
Medical negligence
Compartment syndrome may prompt an accusation of negligence for two reasons:
- Compartment syndrome is occasionally a product of poor management of a patient during prolonged surgery. Where the patient is left in the lithotomy position on their back with their legs raised, it is essential that the position is relieved in order to avoid just such a problem as compartment syndrome. If medical professionals fail to consider and act on this requirement, leaving the patient in this unnatural position for an extended period of time, they may be regarded as having provided substandard care. If the patient subsequently develops long-term problems due to compartment syndrome, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
- If the patient's symptoms of compartment syndrome are not accurately identified and corrective surgery is not organised as a matter of emergency, the patient may suffer long-term dysfunction. In this situation, the relevant medical practitioner may be regarded as having acted negligently. The patient may be left with permanent disability and may wish to consider making a claim for compensation.
Making a compensation claim
A successful compensation claim can provide recompense for the patient's pain, suffering and financial losses associated with the effects of the negligence. If, for example, the patient is unable to work or has a reduced income due to the effects of their compartment syndrome, a successful claim can resolve these difficulties.
Contact Glynns Solicitors to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor if you or a loved one are suffering the on-going effects of this painful condition.
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