Assessment Errors and Misdiagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome
If a GP or medical practitioner in Accident and Emergency do not carry out a comprehensive and appropriate assessment of a patient with lower back pain, they miss the symptoms which suggest that the patient may be developing cauda equina syndrome.
The outcome of this failing can be catastrophic for the patient and may leave the medical professional facing a claim for compensation.
Cauda equina compression assessment
If a patient is exhibiting possible symptoms of compression of the cauda equina nerves, it is essential that those symptoms are identified by the medical professional as soon as possible.
This may not occur for a couple of reasons:
- A failure to carry out a suitable assessment
- A failure to recognise the significance on the patient's symptoms
- A misdiagnosis based on a partial assessment
However, the patient may be experiencing symptoms which are essential for the medical practitioner to be aware of but which only become apparent with a comprehensive assessment. For example, a patient may be losing sensation in the saddle region and not be aware of this or consider it to be significant.
They may be experiencing altered bladder and urinary function such as having to strain to empty the bladder or having a poor urinary flow but not realise that this is related to their lower back problems.
They may be losing awareness of needing to defecate.
As a result of a failure of assessment, it is possible that the patient may be given a misdiagnosis. They may be referred for an MRI scan but is may not be with the degree of urgency that is needed for cauda equina compression. This life-changing condition is a medical emergency and any delay can allow time for the compression of the nerves to increaser and the patients long-term outcome to worsen.
Making a claim for compensation
If such a situation occurs and it is found that a failure of assessment by the relevant medical professional has caused a delay in diagnosis and surgery, it may be possible for the patient to make a claim for compensation.
A successful claim addresses the symptoms and associated difficulties which the patient is suffering as a consequence of the negligence. This may be a loss of income if their symptoms, caused by the negligence, have restricted their ability to work.
It could also include the costs of care or equipment if this has been necessitated by the impact of the negligent delay.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive expertise in cauda equina syndrome claims.
Contact us to talk to an experienced solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
We can offer No Win No Fee funding for medical negligence claims which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
Make An Enquiry
Why Choose Us
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- Free initial enquiries
- No win, no fee available
Reviews
Our Expertise
Helping Clients Across England & Wales
