Surgical Errors Leave Patient with On-going Cauda Equina Syndrome Symptoms
Having struggled with back pain for several months, Martha went to her GP complaining of sciatica in both legs. She was referred to an orthopaedic consultant who arranged for an MRI scan to be carried out. At this stage, Martha was not suffering any urinary or saddle sensation problems, which might have indicated a problem with her cauda equina nerves.
The MRI scan showed a disc protrusion in the lumbar region and a discectomy operation was carried out.
Following the surgery, Martha's sciatic pain had gone but she was experiencing numbness in her feet and odd cramping sensations in her legs. Furthermore she had not urinated or opened her bowels.
These symptoms were new. She had not experienced them prior to her surgery and our medical experts suggest that such a deterioration in symptoms should have warranted a further MRI scan to identify the underlying cause. Had this occurred, Martha should have undergone further surgery and thereby avoided her future difficulties.
The following day, Martha wanted to wee but could not and was in considerable pain, resulting in a catheter being fitted. This released a volume of urine from the bladder of sufficient quantity that it would have caused injury to Martha's bladder. Closer monitoring of symptoms and earlier catheterisation would have avoided this disabling outcome.
Further sensation losses in Martha's saddle area were identified that day but still no MRI scan was arranged, as continued to be the case over the following days, during which Martha also suffered embarrassing episodes of faecal incontinence. This was a period of extreme distress for Martha who did not realise that her symptoms were not normal after surgery. She felt uninformed about what was happening to her and, furthermore, felt that her concerns and symptoms were being dismissed by the consultant who had performed her surgery.
Eventually, Martha was discharged with continuing urinary problems and difficulties with constipation, but no investigation of her symptoms with an MRI scan had occurred.
Over the following months and years, Martha continued to struggle daily, particularly with debilitating problems with her bladder and repeated urinary tract infections making life very difficult. She eventually learnt to self-catheterise in order to manage her symptoms.
When Martha asked Glynns to investigate the quality of her medical care, it became apparent that there were concerns around the consenting process, the quality of the surgery itself and the monitoring and management of Martha in the following days. The experts instructed by Glynns were of the view that Martha had suffered trauma to her cauda equina nerves during her surgery which was the cause of her subsequent problems.
Reflecting the extent of her problems and the distressing impact which the negligence has had on Martha's quality of life, she was awarded compensation in excess of £500,000.00.
(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)
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