Understanding the Dangers of Compartment Syndrome Medical Malpractice: Portland Medical Malpractice Lawyers Explain
Compartment syndrome is one of the more dangerous conditions that a doctor could misdiagnose or fail to diagnose. Patients who are suffering from compartment syndrome and are not immediately treated my suffer irreparable injury. Compartment syndrome is where there is some type of trauma or injury to a limb which accumulates excessive pressure. That excessive pressure can cut off circulation, damage nerve, and destroy tissue. Healthcare providers who fail to identify, diagnose, and treat compartment syndrome could be causing serious Oregon medical malpractice. This is because patients who offer from uncontrollable compartment syndrome could suffer extreme personal injury including nerve damage, paralysis, amputation, and wrongful death. Our Portland orthopedic medical malpractice lawyers explain explain the dangerous of compartment syndrome and how it could be caused by preventable medical errors.
What is Compartment Syndrome?
Compartment syndrome occurs when there is extreme pressure to a part of the body which continues to build up. This is usually in a limb or closed segment of the body, like the hand or foot. Compartment syndrome is usually caused by trauma to that area of the body. This includes trauma such as broken bones, significant impact injuries, blood clots, external constriction (like medical casts or braces on too tight), deep muscle bruises, and other strong trauma.
What happens with compartment syndrome is that the injured area starts to aggressively swell. This fluid buildup occurs in the connective tissue around the muscles and bones, known as fascia. This area fills with blood or edema. Most times a part of the body is injured the body can regular the swellings to avoid compartment syndrome. However, when the body cannot diffuse the fluids fast enough or where the body is damaged in such a way that the fluids cannot drain, compartment syndrome can develop. This means the pressure could start to cause a loss of oxygen flow to the lower parts of the body. This could cause serious bodily damage if the pressure is not discharged. To do this, surgeons can simply cut into the limb and insert a drain to help fluid pull away. This decreases pressure and avoids injury.
What Happens When Compartment Syndrome Medical Malpractice Occurs?
When there is compartment syndrome medical malpractice, the fluid that builds up in the limb is allowed to stay there. This means that the body is struggling to get rid of the pressure and a competent physician is not helping the body relieve that pressure. This means that blood flow from the heart cannot get to the part of the body on the other side of the swelling. The injured limb and part of the body which cannot get oxygen could start to suffer hypoxic injury, which is due to a lack of oxygen.
Some of the common injuries from compartment syndrome which are not diagnosed include the following:
- Nerve injuries;
- Damage to blood vessels;
- Tissue damage, including muscle loss, tendon loss, ligament damage, and permanent damage to bones;
- Paralysis below the point of the compartment syndrome;
- Permanent loss of use of the injured limb;
- Partial amputation;
- Full amputation;
- Need for reconstructive surgery, including knee replacements or other join replacements;
- Skin grafts;
- Wrongful death; and
- Other injuries.
Did a Doctor Delay in Diagnosing or Treating Your Compartment Syndrome? You May be the Victim of Oregon Medical Malpractice
If a healthcare provider failed to diagnose compartment syndrome, you may have rights under Oregon law. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
