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Goldie was born in 1938.
> In 1995 she had back surgery, got an infection in her back after
the surgery
> and has suffered ever since...
> Tell me what you think about her lawsuit, please...
>
> The situation:
>
> 1973-1995
>
> Goldie has back problems (complaints) which she treats with
medicine and
> chiropractic care.
>
>
> 1986_
> diagnosed with arthritis of the neck (cervical spine) and has
spasms in her
> back muscles (thoracic area of her spine)
> no neurological deficits.
>
>
>
> 5/1986- 7/1995
>
> No neurological impairment
> MRI shows degenerative disease (every body has that over the age of
35)
> narrowing of disc.
>
>
>
> 10/95
> Pain in the back of both legss radiating up to her buttocks- given
darvocet
> and Daypro
>
> 11/95
> Ct scan done
> no disc herniation found
> bulging disc at L- 4-5
>
> 12/95
> goes to neurologist
> complains of leg pain for the last month- darvocet and daypro not
helping the
> pain
> both legs weak
> pain worse with walking
> when she walks she has to lean forward
>
> 1/96
> neurologist refers to to orthodepist
> orthopedist notes tenderness at the sciatic nerve
> and limited motion
>
> Orthopedist wants to do a bone graft fusion with pedicle screws (in
1996 FDA
> says it is ok to use these screws, but in 1998 FDA says those
screws aren't
> good for this procedure).
> and that at the same time the neurosurgeon should do a laminectomy.
>
>
> 1/18/96
> Ortho's physician ass't conducts a pre-operative exam.
> no neurological problems found
>
>
> 2/13/96 surgery performed by orthopedist (fusion using screws) and
> neurosurgeon (laminectomy)
>
> interoperative x-ray indicates on of the screws is slightly
malpositioned
> Records do not indicate whether orthopedist noted this or knew this.
> In orthopedist's deposition he acknowledges that the screw was
slightly
> malpositioned but it is not a big deal.
>
> 2/15/96
> orthopedist's physican ass't notes that Goldie stated that her back
feels
> like jello
>
>
> 2/14- 2/15
> Given antibiotic therapy (Kefeol) after surgery...
>
> 2/16
> physician's ass't notes drainage at the incision
>
>
> 2/18
> drainage- no culture taken
> given Cephalexin antibiotic 500 mg by mouth
>
> 2/19 scheduled for discharge
> cancelled discharge due to drainage
> orthodpedic doctor didn't see her for these 5 days- his physician's
ass't saw
> her
>
> 5/20
> orthopedist sees her in the hospital- notices pus on hardware sees
some dead
> muscle.. does a culture
>
> they find E-coli and bacteroides fragilis..
> urine shows a systemic infection.
> E-coli comes from fecal material.
>
> Well she is a mess.
> she needed 13 other surgeries
> says she can't do her housework anymore- can't take care of the
grand kids
> etc.
>
> She is on Methodone for pain now and Zoloft for depression.
>
>
> Ok who do you agree with or disagree with:
>
> Starting with the defense:
> surgery was necessary
>
> plaintiff's experts say:
> laminectomy ok but fusion was too radical
>
> What do you think?
>
>
>
> Plaintiff says the malpositioning of the screw was malpractice
> defense says it was malpositioned a centimeter and that didn't
cause
> infection.. It was the infection that was her problem..
>
> What do you think?
>
>
> Plaintiff says:
> some thing was not sterile, never should get an E coli infection
> and they should've caught the infection sooner
>
> Defense says:
> post surgical infection is a known complication of any surgery.
> was treated with antibiotics and they were watching it and did not
discharge
> her early.. as a matter of fact they saved her life.
>
> What do you think?
>
> thanks in advance.. I need your logical minds here...
> Amy
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