THE TYPE OF CASE WE DO

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VASCULAR INJURY; KNEE REPLACEMENT; FALSE ANEURYSM; DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS; ISCHAEMIA; ABOVE KNEE AMPUTATION

C V WRIGHTINGON, WIGAN, LEIGH NHS TRUST (2005)

£350,000 following above knee amputation required due to delay in diagnosis and treatment of false aneurysm


Aged 60 C underwent routine knee replacement.

During the operation the popliteal artery was damaged. The damage was not identified.

C developed pain and swelling post operatively. A fasciotomy was performed 12 days after surgery. 13 days after initial surgery angiogram was performed and the popliteal injury (a false aneurysm) identified.

C required above knee amputation due to the ischaemic damage caused during the 12 days for which his injury went untreated.

BREACH OF DUTY

It was C's case that there was an unacceptable delay in investigating the possibility that the post operative symptoms were caused by damage to the popliteal artery.

CAUSATION

Had C's post operative swelling been treated earlier his ischaemic damage would have been avoided and limb saved.

OUTCOME

The hospital accepted that earlier diagnosis would have saved the limb. Compensation was agreed without trial at £350,000