Proving negligence contributed to a knee replacement failure is necessary to receive compensation from a lawsuit. Nearly 300,000 patients undergo knee replacement each year, according to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons. Even with this high number, surgeries involving knee replacement have the reputation of leading to medical problems, and it is not always clear whether or not the problems are associated with an unsuccessful knee replacement procedure. With the legal expertise of an attorney, it can be determined whether negligence occurred and patients have legal rights regarding the unsuccessful procedure.
Medical Problems Related to Knee Replacement Surgery
Most patients are subject to injuries and damages from a knee replacement operation because of negligence. Many injuries and damages occur soon after a surgical procedure. Others common injuries from a knee replacement may occur at a later date. The following information describes medical problems related to negligence in knee replacement surgery:
- Problems that occur during the surgery procedure such as bleeding complications, artery damage, errors with anesthesia, nerve damage and other surgical mistakes.
- Post-operative care after a knee replacement procedure may lead to negligence with allergic reactions to implants, infections and blood clots.
- Complications during post-operative care that causes knee replacement failure. These include loss of motion, knee replacement device moving away from bone, a defective or ill-fitting prosthesis that leads to discomfort or pain in the knee.
- Future procedures related to knee replacement because of the first device failing from inadequate care and treatment.
Normally, knee replacement procedures require a standard of care to ensure proper care and attention is given. Determining whether the surgeon’s actions lead to negligence is standard practice. This is necessary whether the knee replacement procedure failed or not. Patients of knee replacement surgery are subject to suffering from the procedure, even if negligence does not occur. However, each patient should consult with an attorney to make that determination and present a valid claim for compensation.
Legal Assistance
Claims against a surgeon for knee replacement failure are dependent on individual factors. Determining whether a patient has the right to make a legal claim of negligence is made on a case-by-case evaluation. Legal counsel will review all related medical documentation, including X-rays and third-party expert opinions usually provided by an orthopedic specialist. The medical documentation includes information gathered before and after surgery.
Simply experiencing knee replacement failure does not automatically assert that negligence occurred. This is usually determined through consultations between an orthopedic surgeon and an attorney. Both can determine negligence and the extent that a knee replacement failure was caused by negligence.