What Should You Do If You Have Problems After Knee Surgery?

It is not uncommon to experience complications after knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgery has become popular as a treatment for severe knee injuries, arthritis, and other problems of the knee. However, it is not uncommon for a person to experience complications after the surgery. In some cases, the complications may arise due to the negligence of the surgeon or another medical professional. If you have been a victim of medical malpractice related to knee surgery, you may be able to file a lawsuit and seek compensation.

Common Hazards and Adverse Effects of Knee Replacement Surgery

During a knee replacement surgery, a metal cover is used to replace the femur or the end of the thigh bone. A metal stem and plastic component are also used to replace the tibia or the end of the leg bone. The posterior cruciate ligament may also be replaced or taken out during the procedure. Complications after a knee replacement surgery include:

• Infection necessitating another surgical procedure.
• Injury to the nerves.
• Persistent pain or inflexibility along the knee area.
• Blood clots in the leg or pulmonary embolism that can reach the lungs.
• Haemorrhaging along the knee joints.
• Urinary tract infection.
• Damage to the blood vessels.
• Limited range of motion.

Requirements for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Just because the knee surgery did not have the desired outcome, you do not get the right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.  A medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed only if the orthopaedic surgeon failed to comply with the medical standard of care. It is generally not easy to decide whether the complications occurred because of negligence on the part of the surgeon or for some other reason. The jury will be able to give a verdict only after listening to testimonies from medical experts from both sides.

If the surgeon or medical staff had already informed you of the risks associated with the surgery, and you still decided to go ahead with the procedure, then chances are that the informed consent would protect the doctor from litigation unless something out of the ordinary resulted in the complications. However, you may file a lawsuit against the surgeon if you were not informed of the possible adverse outcomes of the surgery, and if you would not have opted for the treatment had you known about the risks associated with it.

There could be some cases in which the negligence would be more than evident, for example, if the surgeon did not insert the knee cap properly, or if the surgeon accidently broke a bone during the procedure. Such cases may qualify for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Consult an Experienced St. Louis Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you suspect that the problems you are experiencing post-surgery are a result of the surgeon’s negligence, call Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200 for a free consultation.

Photo credit: Lena via Flickr