Woman loses use of arm following carpal tunnel procedure

It's often complications during seemingly minor medical procedures that result in surgical errors. One doctor, while performing a carpal tunnel release, apparently attempted to stabilize a bone by using a six inch metal plate. However, difficulties in fitting the plate into place caused him to use sutures instead of screws.

Unfortunately, it appears that the sutures cut into the bone, and this resulted in the collarbone being damaged at the distal end. In fact, the collar bone apparently was literally cut off by the sutures. It is alleged that the patient has since suffered "severe and progressive pain and loss of use of her left shoulder and arm."

The female patient has since brought a medical lawsuit against the orthopedic surgeon and the orthopedic center for which he worked. It is claimed that the surgeon did not provide the sort of care that a "reasonably prudent orthopedist" would have performed.

The attorney for the woman filing the complaint for this lawsuit asserts negligence in a number of areas. Many of the counts concern the doctor attempting to provide a procedure which he was unqualified to perform. The complaint states that the doctor failed to refer the patient to a specialist with more experience and knowledge concerning this type of operation.

It is often the case in medical malpractice lawsuits that doctors take on more than they are qualified to perform. The results of a botched procedure often end up in causing damage to the body of a patient that far outweighs the medical malady that was meant to be treated.

No one undergoes a treatment to resolve carpal tunnel syndrome with the notion that they may lose all use of their shoulder and arm. Doctors responsible for this type of error need to be held accountable.

Source: Star Exponent, "Medical malpractice lawsuit continued to next September," by Rhonda Simmons, Oct. 16, 2012

• Pennsylvania patients that have suffered from what they believe to be unnecessary operations or surgical errors may wish to visit our website.