Fourth Degree Tear Fistula and Claiming Compensation for Negligent Care
A fourth degree tear can cause devastating symptoms if it is left unrepaired due to negligent medical care. Contact Glynns to discuss the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
Fourth degree tears and rectovaginal fistulas
A fourth degree tear is the most severe form of perineal tear which a woman can experience during vaginal childbirth.
Under the pressure of the birth of a baby, a 4th degree tear can commence at the vagina, extend across the perineum and cut through both the external and internal anal sphincter muscles, finally causing additional damage to the lining of the anal canal.
Without prompt diagnosis and expert repair, a 4th degree tear can cause an abnormal passage to develop between the rectum and the vagina, known as a rectovaginal fistula, through which wind and faeces can leak.
The appalling symptoms of incontinence and loss of bowel control associated with this injury are both extremely distressing and significantly debilitating.
Needing quick access to a toilet and fearing the impact of incontinence can restrict a woman's life in a wide range of ways, from her social interaction and the type of work she can carry out, to her very willingness to leave the house. Her ability to nurture and care for her baby can also be compromised.
In some circumstances, a fourth degree tear and fistula can leave a woman requiring a stoma to be fitted in order to provide bowel function.
Have you been the victim of negligent maternity care?
Women who give birth through the vagina need to be thoroughly examined following the birth. Injuries such as 3rd and 4th degree tears need to be diagnosed promptly and a thorough examination including a digital rectal examination is necessary to ensure any damage is identified.
If an examination does not take place or if an injury is misdiagnosed, meaning that the damage is not repaired, the woman may suffer permanent symptoms. The relevant medical professionals may be regarded as having been negligent and it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
A successful claim would include the financial impact of the symptoms caused by the negligence such as loss of income if a woman is no longer able to earn the same level of income as she had enjoyed prior to her injury.
Speak to a specialist solicitor
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice. We have a team of expert lawyers with extensive experience in severe perineal tear claims.
If you have been the victim of negligent care, contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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