Failure to diagnose compartment syndrome leads to permanent damage
Whilst playing football, Jake fell and injured his leg. He was taken to Stafford General Hospital, part of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, and was told he had fractured his tibia.
He had an operation to internally fixate the fracture. He was transferred to a ward following the operation.
The nursing staff on the ward were given strict instructions to monitor Jake for symptoms of compartment syndrome (where nerves and blood vessels are compressed due to pressure building up in one of the compartments in the leg, which results in tissue death due to a lack of oxygenation if left untreated). Symptoms of compartment syndrome include intense pain which is not controlled with pain relief, pins and needles in the limb, and tense, swollen and shiny skin.
After Jake had been transferred to the ward he was in immense pain, much greater than the initial pain he experienced when he had fractured the tibia, and his leg was tense and swollen. Despite communicating this to the nursing staff, no action was taken and he was not monitored.
After two days, Jake had developed a foot drop. He was very dissatisfied with his care and asked to be transferred to a private hospital. He underwent physiotherapy but his foot drop remained and he was eventually discharged home.
He struggled with mobility at home and was referred to a specialist orthopaedic centre one year later where it was confirmed he had suffered a compartment syndrome at Stafford General Hospital which had not been diagnosed. As a result of the failure to diagnose and treat the compartment syndrome, his nerves had been damaged.
He required surgery at the specialist orthopaedic centre to lengthen his tendons to try to help his balance, but unfortunately the damage to his nerves has been deemed permanent.
With the help of clinical negligence lawyer Emma Rush, a case was pursued against the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust admitted that the staff treating Jake had failed to provide him with a reasonable standard of care. A five figure settlement was awarded to Jake as a result of the Trust's negligence.