Surgical Errors When Fixing Broken Bones: Kingston Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Understanding Surgical Errors When Repairing Broken Bones: Kingston Medical Malpractice Lawyer Explains

When you suffer a significant broken bone, you may require surgery.  This is commonly known as an “open reduction” which means the body is being “opened” to get the broken bones “reduced” back in line.  A “reduction” is just the term used to get ends of a bone brought back together.  Usually an open reduction will require hardware such as screws, plates, rods, and other pins to keep the broken bones in place so they can heal properly.  This is a pretty standard procedure for an orthopedist, but mistakes could happen which could be due to New York medical malpractice.  Our Kingston medical malpractice lawyer explains.

Types of Surgical Errors When Fixing Broken Bones

While there are many different ways that there could be surgical errors when attempting to repair a broken bones, here are some common examples of New York medical malpractice:

• Wrong patient surgery – Whoops!  Emergency Department mistakes could get patients switched or confused, meaning that two patients will endure completely unnecessary surgery which are almost always medical malpractice.
• Wrong site surgery – Another oops!  When the surgeon thinks he or she is operating on a broken wrist, but that ends up being a communication error and the doctor is really supposed to be operating on a broken ankle.  This means a patient will undergo two surgeries when only one is required, and can mean a longer road to recovery, increased risk of infection, and increased risk of other serious complications.
• Using the wrong fixation hardware – You wouldn’t use a railroad spike or eyeglass screws to hang a picture on the wall, right?  Of course!  But unfortunately some surgeons are either lazy or improperly estimate the needs for screws or pins and use entirely the wrong sized fixation hardware which means more damage or less likelihood of the repair working and needing more surgeries.
• Improper sterilization techniques – when a surgeon or hospital fails to use the proper sterilization protocol, it could result in very serious infections and injuries, including contamination of HIV, HEP C, or other seriously blood-borne diseases.

If a surgical errors during a procedure to fix broken bones result in permanent injuries, additional pain and suffering, higher medical bills, or bones that don’t heal properly, please call our Kingston medical malpractice lawyer to learn how we can help.  Medical providers which make a mistake when repairing broken bones should be liable for these mistakes.  

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.