After orthopedic surgery, wounds and implanted hardware must be monitored carefully for any signs of infection or complications. If a surgical wound breaks down or infections develop around plates, screws, or joint replacements, it needs to be treated as soon as possible. If complications are not recognized and addressed in time, the infection can spread fast into tissue and bones that can lead to permanent damage or amputations.
A post op infection amputation can be life changing for patients and their families. It can be the result of medical professionals failing to provide a standard of care for their patients in situations such as post-operative care. Early warning signs that go ignored can be a form of negligence when the patient files an orthopedic hardware infection lawsuit with an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Why Monitoring Surgical Wounds Is Critical After Orthopedic Procedures
Orthopedic surgeries involve placement of hardware like plates, screws, rods, or artificial joints. Such devices are designed to stabilize bones and allow them to heal properly. Though these procedures are generally safe, any surgery can carry risks of complications, including infections. For example, bacteria can enter a surgical site and attach to implanted hardware and form protective layers known as biofilms. The biofilms can make the infections more of a challenge to treat.
If a post-operative infection isn’t treated promptly, it can spread fast. It can make its way to:
- Surrounding soft tissue
- Bone (leading to osteomyelitis)
- The bloodstream (causing sepsis)
Because of these risks, a patient recovering from orthopedic surgery requires close monitoring and prompt evaluation of any symptoms that need to be treated quickly.
Hypothetical Scenario: When a Post-Surgical Infection Is Missed
After undergoing orthopedic surgery, a patient appeared to recover normally at home. Everything seemed to be fine until about a week later when warning signs began to develop. Specifically, the surgical incision may be red, swollen, and painful. Upon closer inspection, there is some drainage that appears around the wound. The patient also experiences a fever.
They report these symptoms during follow-up appointments. In some cases, the symptoms may be labeled as post-surgical inflammation that is “routine”. However, the infection gets worse to the point where bacteria is spreading deeper into the tissue. It may not have reached the bone or the implanted hardware. Unconvinced, the patient gets examined at the emergency room and as it turns out, it is an infection.
Further imaging showed that the infection didn’t reach the bone nor the implanted hardware. It was caught in time to where effective treatment could be administered. However, if the patient didn’t act on their instinct for a second opinion on the issue, the infection would have been much worse. It would have resulted in the bacteria spreading into the tissue and bones, eventually leading to an amputation.
Indeed, amputations can be prevented if surgical infections are caught early and treated immediately. However, because it was labeled as a “routine” issue after surgery, this may have been a lack of care on the part of the medical personnel. If it resulted in an amputation, the patient may have the option to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Why Orthopedic Hardware Infections Are So Difficult To Treat
When bacteria infects implanted hardware, it can be challenging for the infection to be treated. That’s because bacteria can attach to the surface of metal implants. This can create biofilms that protect the bacteria from antibiotics, even the body’s immune system. Because of this, treating hardware infections requires a more aggressive approach, including:
- The surgical removal of infected hardware
- Aggressive antibiotic therapy
- Repeated surgical debridement (the removal of infected tissue)
The treatment itself becomes more complex if the infection spreads to the surrounding bone or tissue. Nonetheless, if a patient has experienced this, they could be able to explore their legal options. This includes possibly filing an orthopedic hardware infection lawsuit with the help of a medical malpractice lawyer, who can investigate possible negligence and determine if the medical personnel have indeed breached the standard of care that is required of them.
What Are The Warning Signs of Post-Surgical Infection
Patients who recover from orthopedic surgery are highly advised to watch for signs of potential infections. As such, surgeons clearly provide such instructions to their patients upon discharge (even in writing). The common warning signs include:
- Redness or warmth around the surgical incision
- Drainage from the wound
- Persistent swelling
- Fever or chills
- Foul odor from the wound
- Increased pain from the would
These symptoms may indicate that bacteria has entered the surgical site. Immediate medical evaluation at this point is necessary. The sooner medical attention is received, the quicker treatment begins.
What Constitutes Negligence in Post-Surgical Infection Cases
Surgical infections can still happen even if they are not the result of medical negligence. Nonetheless, it makes medical malpractice cases complex. An experienced attorney in this specialty, has worked on cases related to surgical related infections, and they know of the common patterns and instances that can be considered a form of negligence. These include:
- Poor sterile techniques: Surgical teams need to follow strict sterile procedures to reduce the risk of contamination during surgery.
- Inadequate post-surgical follow-up: Patients must be monitored regularly to ensure that the surgical site is healing properly.
- Ignoring drainage or fever: If there is persistent drainage, swelling, or fever after surgery it should be taken seriously and evaluated as soon as possible.
- Failure to investigate possible infection: Doctors may need to order imaging studies, blood tests, or wound cultures when an infection is suspected.
- Delay in surgical debridement: If a deep infection develops, surgical debridement may be required to remove any infected tissue so the infection doesn’t spread further.
The delays in these interventions may allow infections to progress to a point where tissue destruction occurs. This can be irreversible and can lead to amputation.
What Patients and Families Can Do After a Severe Surgical Infection?
If a post-operative infection leads to severe complications, patients and their families may want a better understanding as to what happened and whether they received proper care. They may take the following steps:
- Request surgical and medical records: These records are key to a possible medical malpractice claim, especially when it shows how the wound was monitored and whether any symptoms were reported.
- Document symptoms and communications: Keeping track of symptoms and interactions with healthcare providers is important. This may even identify any delays in treatment.
- Consult with a medical malpractice attorney: In cases involving post op infection amputation or related incidents, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can assist you. They may consult with an independent medical evaluator on your behalf as well as investigate possible negligence that resulted in an amputation.
Final Thoughts
A post-operative wound or even hardware complications can occur after a surgery. The sooner a surgical infection has been diagnosed, the quicker treatment needs to be administered. If medical professionals fail to treat a surgical infection, it can lead to consequences that are irreversible. If you or a loved one has had to undergo an amputation due to a missed surgical infection diagnosis, contact a medical malpractice attorney in your local area today to schedule a consultation.
