Man, 24, aims for 2016 Paralympics after hospital neglect resulted in avoidable amputation
Clinical Negligence News : 17 September 2012
A recent report has revealed that a 24-year-old man was left needing his leg amputated after doctors failed to carry out straightforward muscle-pressure tests. The man is now hoping to take part in the next Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.
The man injured himself during a tackle in a game of football, fracturing his right leg in two places. He attended the accident and emergency department but the doctors failed to carry out the appropriate muscle stretch tests despite the man being in pain. Had the tests been carried out, they would have been used to diagnose compartment syndrome, a condition which can cause infection and paralysis.
The syndrome was eventually diagnosed, but much later than it should have been. As a consequence, the man underwent 17 operations in an effort to repair the damage which had been caused, but unfortunately these were unsuccessful and a below knee amputation of his right leg was carried out.
The man sought legal advice and managed to successfully recover compensation for the preventable amputation of his leg. The hospital trust admitted that their failures in treating the man had directly caused his amputation.
The man continued to take part in competitive sport despite the amputation and was able to purchase a permanent prosthetic limb with his compensation money. The man has now begun regular training with the British Paralympic Kayaking team and hopes to be able to take part in the Paralympic Games in 2016.
