THE TYPE OF CASE WE DO

Aged 36 B underwent surgery for an unrelated condition. The operation took six and a half hours during which his ankles were 20 degrees above horizontal.

B complained of severe pain in his calves following the operation. The calves were hard to the touch.

Deep vein thrombosis was excluded however it was not until four days after the onset of pain that compartment syndrome was diagnosed.

B required removal of the necrotic calf tissue. The wounds became infected with MRSA and B was left significantly disabled. B had mobility difficulties and was unable to return to his preoperation work.

It was B's case that he should not have been kept in the same position for so long during operation and that his compartment syndrome should have been diagnosed and treated promptly.

It was B's case either that his compartment syndrome should have been avoided or that it should have been treated promptly and the development of necrotic tissue avoided leading to full recovery.

The hospital accepted that the compartment syndrome should have been avoided.

The case was settled without trial for £510,000.