Knee Surgery Claims Solicitors

Following a medical history and physical examination conducted by a healthcare professional, the source of a potential knee problem may be investigated in several ways:

• X-rays
• CT scans
• MRI scans
• Arthroscopy

A healthcare professional may also perform an examination under anaesthetic (EUA) and/or a manipulation under anaesthetic (MUA).

An EUA involves checking inside the knee with a camera to identify any reasons behind their patient’s problems. An MUA is a minimally invasive procedure which aims to relieve chronic pain and reduce stiffness by moving joints to a full range of motion. This might resolve the patient’s issues without the need for more invasive surgery.

In all circumstances, the symptoms highlighted by the patient and the results of any tests performed should determine the most suitable treatment. If investigations are not conducted to a reasonable standard, this could lead to avoidable delays in treatment, and allow someone’s knee problems to worsen before they receive treatment.

If your wellbeing, lifestyle, treatment options and prognosis have been affected by a delay in treating your knee injury, you could be entitled to claim for medical negligence.

During knee reconstruction and replacements, every decision a surgeon makes can impact on the patient. A lapse in concentration or error in judgement can have significant consequences, from reduced or complete loss of function in the knee to, in the most severe cases, amputation.

Surgical complications that can occur during these procedures include:

• Replacement ligaments during reconstruction surgery being too long or too short. If the ligament is too long, this can lead to instability while standing or moving. If the ligament is too short, it may prevent the knee from bending properly
• The tunnel a surgeon makes in the bone to pass new tissue through may be incorrectly placed, leading to future problems
• The prosthesis selected in a knee replacement may be too large or too small for the patient, resulting in pain, limited mobility or instability
• There is a risk of infection through an open wound during surgery, which could be transferred through the prosthesis that is being installed
• The surgeon could damage nerves or blood vessels, which if left undetected could cause muscle wastage or the permanent death of nerves

If you or a loved one has been affected by any of the above situations or another complication during knee surgery, we can help you secure the compensation that you deserve for any pain, suffering or loss of amenity experienced.

It is important to note that if the prosthesis implemented during surgery malfunctions, and the surgeon could not have foreseen this, this would not be a medical negligence claim. Instead, it would be a product liability claim.

When a knee surgery or a knee replacement goes wrong, this can cause numerous problems, including:

• Reduced mobility or range of movement

• Stiffness

• Additional pain

• Infections

• Blood clots

• Bleeding

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

• Damage to arteries, nerves and ligaments in the knee

Depending on the nature and the extent of the damage you sustained during surgery, it can have short and long-term consequences on your financial situation, emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life.

For example, you may need to undergo corrective surgeries to repair the damage caused. This may require you to take more time away from work than originally intended to undergo these additional procedures and so incur loss of earnings.

You may also require ongoing treatments, such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, to help improve knee function as well as to help manage the pain and discomfort you now face due to the injuries sustained during surgery.

If the mobility of your knee and lower limbs has been significantly impacted by a surgical error, this could cause dramatic changes to your lifestyle:

• You may find it more challenging to move around the home or climb stairs

• You may no longer be able to drive your car or travel to your workplace, and therefore need access to different forms of transportation

• You may no longer be able to run, exercise or take part in sports or other hobbies

• You may find it harder to go out and socialise with others, affecting your mental and emotional health

• You may need to rely on others more for support, limiting your independence

By making a knee surgery claim, you could receive compensation that can help you improve the areas of your life affected by your injury.

While compensation cannot undo what happened to you, it can provide you with essential financial assistance to help you in everyday life. This includes (but is not limited to):

• Further surgeries and corrective procedures

• Ongoing therapies, such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy

• Adaptations to the home, such as stairlifts and wetrooms

• Adaptations to vehicles

• Aids and equipment, such as walking sticks, crutches and wheelchairs

• Loss of earnings

Our experienced team works tirelessly to achieve the outcome you deserve, so you can return to the position you were in prior to your injury or, where this is not possible, to help you and your family adjust to life after your injuries.

Our case study on Mr F is a helpful example of how the compensation awarded in a knee surgery claim is determined based on the unique repercussions faced by the claimant:

Generally, a knee injury compensation claim must be made within 3 years of when the injury was noticed. However, children making a claim have until their 21st birthday, and there is no time limit for anyone who is mentally incapacitated.

Furthermore, the Court does have discretion to allow a claim to be brought out of time. Please contact us and we can discuss your specific circumstances.