Orthopaedic Surgery / Joint Replacement Surgery

Orthopaedic or joint replacement surgery can lead to medical negligence claims if you are harmed due to a failure to meet the appropriate standard of care. Orthopaedic or joint replacement surgery is often performed privately but can also be performed on the NHS.
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Common examples of claims following orthopaedic and joint replacement surgery are:
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• Surgical errors: These can include mistakes such as incorrect incisions, improper placement of implants or hardware, or damage to surrounding tissues or nerves during the surgery.

• Failure to diagnose or properly treat orthopaedic conditions: If a healthcare provider fails to properly diagnose an orthopaedic condition or if they provide substandard treatment, leading to worsened outcomes or complications, it may be considered negligent.

• Inadequate pre-operative assessment or planning: Proper pre-operative assessment and planning are essential to ensure the safety and success of orthopaedic surgeries. Failure to conduct appropriate pre-operative evaluations, such as assessing your overall health and identifying any risk factors, could lead to complications and may result in a medical negligence claim.

• Post-operative complications: Orthopaedic surgeries carry risks of complications such as infections, blood clots, or improper healing. Failure to properly monitor and manage these complications post-operatively can result in harm to the patient and may lead to a medical negligence claim.

• Failure to obtain informed consent: You must be fully informed about the risks associated with orthopaedic or joint replacement surgery so that you can consent to treatment based on that information. Failure to properly inform you about the potential risks of orthopaedic or joint replacement surgery and may lead to a claim for medical negligence if you subsequently experience an injury that you would have avoided.