Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common medical procedures around. It is often seen as a lifeline to the patient and a critical factor in improving a person’s quality of life and ongoing mobility. Unfortunately, while the standards of surgery are generally excellent, problems can occur both privately and through the NHS, and at Ison Harrison we have seen many incidents of clinical negligence which we have been able to follow through successfully for many of our clients, when they have felt brave enough to come forward and reach out to us for help.
There are typically 3 main reasons why hip replacement surgery becomes necessary:
- A congenital defect or abnormality from birth which needs attention
- General wear and tear of the joints
- A fracture or other injury as a result of a fall.
It is obvious what benefits surgery can bring, and while congenital issues can of course affect quite young people, generally-speaking hip replacement surgery is carried out on the elderly, for whom ongoing mobility and a reduction in discomfort is absolutely vital. Naturally, errors in this surgery can have a devastating effect; they could lead to further injury, discomfort and hindrance and in extreme cases may result in a patient becoming wheelchair-bound.
A hip replacement should last between 10-20 years, but that is not always the case.
Clinical negligence is a specialist law area and Ison Harrison have a team of nationally-recognised staff who can deal with a wide range of surgery issues. Barnaby Rosenthall is a solicitor, forging a reputation for solid and trusted advice and for following through successful clinical negligence claims for his clients and has had a number of successful claims arising from hip replacements..
Examples of errors in hip replacement surgery can include:
- Post-operative x-rays not being taken or checked to ensure that all is well before the patient is allowed to weight bear and go home;
- Errors in not fitting or seating an implant properly;
- Causing a fracture during the surgery and not recognising it at the time;
- Fitting the wrong-sized implant causing dislocation or leg length discrepancy;
- Causing damage to surrounding major vessels, such as cutting major nerves or arteries;
Ison Harrison can offer free initial advice on your potential claim and we will listen sympathetically to your individual circumstances before advising on the best way forward. Please contact us today if you have experienced clinical negligence in your hip replacement surgery.
