Case studies

Following successful surgery in which a large, benign tumour was removed from our 8-year old client's brain by frontal craniotomy, she was transferred to the neurology ward.

Our client had a complicated medical history, with diabetes, hypertension and gallstones. She fractured one of her toes and had a below knee plaster cast fitted and was then admitted to hospital to have her gall bladder removed.

Brachial plexus injuries can arise during birth, where excessive force or incorrect manoeuvres are applied to try to deliver a baby whose shoulder may be obstructed, preventing delivery.

We have recently settled a case against a private orthopaedic surgeon for inappropriate and technically unacceptable knee surgery. Our client is in her 60s and had suffered intermittent knee pain for several years. The surgeon had advised against operating. She then had two isolated episodes of immobilising pain and sought his advice. Without further investigations or examination, he told her she needed a partial knee replacement which he performed a couple of months later.

Our client was advised by a podiatric surgeon to undergo surgery for hammer toes, but during the operation the oxygen supply to her toes was depleted leading to ischaemia.

Our client underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy after her treating gynaecologist failed to explore properly other less invasive treatment options for her symptoms.

Our client suffered congenital abnormalities as a result of which he had to undergo extensive surgery shortly following his birth. The surgery itself proceeded smoothly, but after his discharge our client developed necrotising entercolitis for which he had to be readmitted.

Our client was nine days old when he suffered asphyxia because a ventilation tube became blocked, starving him of oxygen and causing permanent brain damage.

The claimant in this case had undergone laparoscopic surgery to terminate an ectopic pregnancy at an NHS hospital. She was told that the procedure had been fully successful but continued to feel unwell. On the second day after surgery, she went back to the hospital for tests which confirmed that she was still pregnant. She was informed that she needed a further procedure, but the hospital could not guarantee the operation would be carried out that day or who the surgeon would be.

We have acted in several cases involving the failure to investigate and diagnose testicular torsion properly. This is a relatively rare condition, normally affecting adolescents, but can sometimes affect older men and younger boys.

We are advising on behalf of a minor who underwent an operation to remove her appendix and who was discharged from hospital the following day, notwithstanding concerns her mother expressed that our client had a high temperature and was feverish.

Our medical negligence solicitors are investigating on behalf of a minor a claim arising from a fracture to the upper arm (humerus) at the elbow. The nature of fractures to the elbow, particularly in children, can vary significantly and so, therefore, can the treatment needed.