£24k compensation - hospital failure to diagnose and treat ruptured quadriceps tendon
Boyes Turner’s medical negligence lawyers recovered £24k in compensation for a 49 year old man, after hospital staff at two different hospitals failed to diagnose and treat his ruptured quadriceps tendon.
He was taken to the defendant hospital by ambulance after a fall and was told that he had sustained a muscle strain. He was sent home with painkillers and crutches. No x-rays were taken.
The pain did not subside and his knee was still very swollen so he went to the A & E department of a different hospital on two different occasions. He was told on both occasions that he had strained his muscle and to continue taking painkillers.
His symptoms still did not improve so he attended his GP surgery and was consequently referred to a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, who diagnosed him immediately with a ruptured quadriceps tendon. Arrangements were then made for him to have an open repair for the rupture.
Following the operation he was post operatively mobilised in a plastic cast until he had to wear a lockable hinge knee brace. He had physiotherapy treatment to build up his muscle strength.
He took advice from Boyes Turner’s medical negligence lawyers and a compensation claim was brought against the first hospital for the failure to diagnose the ruptured quadriceps tendon. The delay of 5 months in receiving surgery has meant that our client has not recovered completely from the injury and he continues to experience problems with kneeling and instability, which has affected his ability to work.
Expert evidence was obtained from a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and a Consultant Emergency Physician, who confirmed that our client did have long term difficulties as a result of the delay of diagnosis. Liability was admitted in part by the defendant hospital, and a settlement figure of £24k in compensation was negotiated by Boyes Turner’s lawyers.
There was no cost to our client in bringing the claim.
Click here to read about other hospital negligence compensation claims we have been involved with.
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