Fayetteville, AR Attorney for Surgical Injury and Death
If you have a condition or illness that requires you to receive surgery, the last scenario you expect is that your surgeon will cause you an additional injury during the surgery. Unfortunately, this is the reality for some people who expect to have a simple procedure performed but instead end up with serious nerve damage. If you or a family member was injured during a surgical procedure, contact an experienced Fayetteville surgical error attorney today.
Committing medical malpractice against a patient that believed they were in good hands is inexcusable. The Kieklak Law Firm is prepared to help you pursue compensation against a negligent medical practitioner for your injuries. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your options, contact the Kieklak Law Firm at (479) 279-6268, or contact us online.
Surgical Errors that May Cause Nerve Damage
Every surgical procedure presents some level of risk for the patient that will be undergoing the procedure. That is why it is important to select a surgeon that will act cautiously during an operation. However, all it takes is one error for a surgical team to cause a patient to suffer an injury that could have long-term effects. The following is a list of surgical errors that may cause a patient to develop nerve damage.
Anesthesia Error
Anesthesia is used to numb an area of a patient’s body or to put a patient to sleep to perform a procedure that could be painful. There are multiple types of anesthesia that can be used during a surgical procedure: local, regional, and general. Each type of anesthesia is administered differently and can cause serious issues if they are not administered correctly.
A syringe is typically used when giving local anesthesia to a patient. If the doctor or nurse misses and the appropriate area of injection and strikes a nerve, the patient could suffer long-term or permanent damage.
The proper administration of regional anesthesia is vital because it must be injected into a patient’s spinal column. The spinal column contains a large number of nerves that connect to the brain and the lower half of a person’s body. If damage to a spinal column nerve occurs during the administration of regional anesthesia, the patient could suffer from paralysis in certain parts of the body.
General anesthesia is a mixture of drugs that are administered through the use of an IV line. If an incorrect dose of anesthesia is given to a patient, they can suffer from nerve damage that causes a loss of sensation. For example, a patient may later feel like certain parts of their body are numb to the touch.
Incorrect Patient Positioning
When undergoing a surgical procedure, especially one that requires you to be asleep, it is important that the surgeon positions you in a manner that will not cause you discomfort once you awaken. However, some surgeons may place a patient in a position where a nerve could be pinched if the patient is immobile for an extensive period of time.
The position that you take during an operation will depend on the type of surgery being performed. For example, if you are having a procedure performed on your stomach, the surgeon will likely position your arms in a T-pose to avoid any obstacles.
Severed Nerve
There are nerves in every portion of your body that must be carefully noted during a surgical procedure. If a surgeon is not careful, they risk the possibility of severing a nerve while performing the surgery. A severed nerve could lead to a loss of function in a certain part of your body.
Other surgical errors that can result in nerve damage include:
- Causing trauma with a surgical instrument
- Compressing an area with a large bundle of nerves for a long period of time
- Causing tissue near a nerve to swell
- Stretching a nerve
It can be difficult to determine whether you suffered from nerve damage immediately after a procedure. In certain cases, the signs and symptoms of nerve damage could take weeks to manifest. It is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you believe your surgery may have caused you to experience weakness or numbness in certain areas. This could be opening signs of a severe nerve injury.
Contact Our Fayetteville Medical Malpractice Attorney to Handle Your Nerve Injury Case
If you or a family member was the victim of a surgical error, consult with an experienced Fayetteville medical malpractice attorney today. Injury lawyer Ken Kieklak possesses over 20 years of legal experience, and he is determined to help you fight against negligent doctors and hospitals. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact the Kieklak Law Firm at (479) 279-6268.