Data collected from medicolegal suits can provide information regarding the morbidity associated with cervical spine surgery, which can lessen the patients' expectations and limit the spine surgeon's liability, according to an article published in Spine.
Researchers posed questions about malpractice allegations that prompted lawsuits against a surgeon to 68 patients who received cervical spine surgery. Postoperative neurologic deficits that led to suits included quadriplegia in 41 patients.
Other injuries and lesser postoperative deficits in 15 patients and 22 patients had pain alone. Malpractice suits involved 63 spine surgeons, whereas 15 of the cases did not. The three most common malpractice events prompting cervical suits were negligent surgery, lack of informed consent and failure to diagnose or treat the condition. The fourth factor was failure to brace.
The outcomes for the suits included 30 defense verdicts, 22 plaintiffs' verdicts with an average payout of $4 million and 26 settlements with an average payout of $2.4 million. The article suggests future consideration given to tort reform or no-fault malpractice system.
Read the abstract for "A Review of Mediocolegal Malpractice Suits Involving Cervical Spine: What can we Learn or Change?"
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
- Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Study: Rotating Rod Effective for Spine Surgery Technique
- Study Shows Minimally Invasive Spine Decompression Effective for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Researchers posed questions about malpractice allegations that prompted lawsuits against a surgeon to 68 patients who received cervical spine surgery. Postoperative neurologic deficits that led to suits included quadriplegia in 41 patients.
Other injuries and lesser postoperative deficits in 15 patients and 22 patients had pain alone. Malpractice suits involved 63 spine surgeons, whereas 15 of the cases did not. The three most common malpractice events prompting cervical suits were negligent surgery, lack of informed consent and failure to diagnose or treat the condition. The fourth factor was failure to brace.
The outcomes for the suits included 30 defense verdicts, 22 plaintiffs' verdicts with an average payout of $4 million and 26 settlements with an average payout of $2.4 million. The article suggests future consideration given to tort reform or no-fault malpractice system.
Read the abstract for "A Review of Mediocolegal Malpractice Suits Involving Cervical Spine: What can we Learn or Change?"
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
- Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Study: Rotating Rod Effective for Spine Surgery Technique
- Study Shows Minimally Invasive Spine Decompression Effective for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis