A 79 year old man has received substantial compensation after a surgeon’s drill ‘slipped’ during a back operation,
damaging the
nerves to his bladder and bowel. Two years ago, the man, then aged 77, was advised to have the operation to reduce the pain he was having in his lower back, legs and buttock, and to help with his walking.
A
consultant neurosurgeon carried out a 'decompression' operation, privately, on the patient's lower spine in an attempt to relieve the pressure on the lower-back nerves.
During the operation the head of the drill slipped on the bone and became entangled in the cauda equina, a sack of nerve roots that runs down from the end of the spinal cord providing nerve function to the lower part of the body. The surgeon found it difficult to disentangle the drill from the nerve roots and although this was done, the
nerve damage had already taken place. The medical team abandoned the operation and ailed to achieve the final level of decompression.
The patient had to have a colostomy and his balance and walking were badly affected
The patient was in rehabilitation for some time before finally having to have a
colostomy operation. He has no bladder or bowel control and finds walking difficult and painful. His balance has been affected, he is prone to falls and gets sharp shooting pains in the lower half of his body.
To make matters worse, the expert spinal and neurosurgeon consulted by Leigh Day & Co. disagreed that the operation was needed in the first place.
The case was settled with the neurosurgeon’s insurers before court proceedings were issued. The compensation recovered was for the injuries he suffered (known as general damages for his pain and suffering and loss of amenity), his past medical and care costs and the cost of future care and treatment he may need.
He was represented by solicitor
Maria Panteli, who specialises in clinical negligence. For more information please call 020 7650 1200.
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