When spine surgery goes correctly, it can help restore a patient’s mobility and ease chronic pain. When it goes incorrectly, the patient can experience new or worsened pain and debilitation. However, even when a spine surgery goes well, it can cause some temporary symptoms that mirror those that appear after a “botched” surgery. How can you know if your after-surgery symptoms are typical or a sign of something worse?
Spine injury symptoms that could suggest a mistake happened during surgery are:
- Slipped disc: You will have limited mobility after spine surgery of any sort, which will require you to get bedrest and avoid sudden or strenuous movements. If you suffer a slipped disc despite carefully following your doctor’s aftercare instructions, then it could suggest that a surgeon’s mistake increased the risk of a slipped disc occurring.
- Infection: Surgery sites should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent bacterial infections afterward. Infections near the spinal cord are especially concerning because the spinal cord could be damaged as the infection grows, resulting in paralysis. If you have been diagnosed with a surgical site infection, it might be a clear sign that not all necessary steps were taken during your spine surgery.
- Blood clot: After lumbar decompression surgery, it is known that a patient will experience a heightened risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or a blood clot forming in the leg. Proper aftercare with limited stretching and movement can help reduce the chance of DVT. It could be medical malpractice if you suffer a blood clot due to not being provided the correct aftercare instructions.
- Dural tear: The dura is a tissue sac that covers the spinal cord. If it is torn during surgery, then it needs to be stitched then and there to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leaks later, which can cause a variety of health issues and complications. When a dural tear is not noticed and left unaddressed, corrective surgery will be required, once again putting the patient at risk of other surgery complications.
In extreme cases, spine surgery can cause an injury to the spinal cord or internal spinal column bleeding, leading to paralysis. Accidental damage to nerves and blood vessels in and around the spine are the main causes of paralysis during spine surgery.
Are Your Symptoms Bad Enough to Sue?
If you are experiencing unexpected or worrying symptoms after undergoing spine surgery, then you should visit your doctor as soon as possible for a furthered medical evaluation. In emergencies, call 911.
Afterward, your next step should be speaking with a medical malpractice attorney. Using a lawyer’s counsel, you can discover if there are signs of medical malpractice during the spine surgery that warrant a claim being filed against the surgeon and/or hospital. Medical malpractice claims are notoriously difficult due to liability laws that tend to benefit the defendants, so, the sooner you can talk to a spine injury lawyer, the better.
Injured patients in Philadelphia can dial (215) 278-4449 to connect with Golomb LegalOur medical malpractice attorneys have decades of combined experience and have recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients!