Delay in treatment leads to extensive surgery and excessive skin grafts
Malcolm was 58 when he was admitted to hospital with a large pressure sore for which he received inadequate treatment.
Malcolm had been paraplegic since 1977 but was generally fit and healthy. In February 2006 he was diagnosed with a pressure sore and was admitted to St Peters Hospital.
The pressure sore was treated by way of debridement but the hospital failed to identify the true extent of the area of redness and cellulitis. Malcolm was finally seen by a consultant on 9 February 2006 some 4 days after he was first admitted to Ashford Hospital. The Consultant made a diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene and Malcolm underwent major surgery for extensive debridement.
Due to the location of the sore and the area of debridement, Malcolm needed to have an ileostomy which they had hoped would be reversed in time.
Vast amounts of skin grafting took place and Malcolm had to undergo numerous procedures to try and restore the area of skin.
As a result of the extensive skin grafting and reconstructive plastic surgery the area of skin on the Malcolm’s lower back, buttocks and perineum is more liable to trauma and skin care has become more difficult. In addition, as a result of the long time for which he had an indwelling urethral catheter, Malcolm has been left with a suprapubic catheter. The ileostomy could not be reversed and Malcolm had to have a permanent colostomy.
Malcolm pursued a case against Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS trust with the assistance of Shivi Nathan and received a settlement of £35,000.00 in compensation.