The Medical Negligence Team at Waldrons Solicitors have recovered damages for a patient who was incorrectly treated for an injury to her right ring finger by her local hospital.
What happened?
In August 2018, our client injured her right ring finger. She attended the A&E department of her local hospital and was informed she had ’mallet finger’ (an injury to the end of a finger that causes it to bend inwards towards the palm). Her finger was strapped in full with a metal and plastic foam splint which she was instructed to keep in place for 8 weeks keeping her finger straight and then to continue to keep her finger strapped at night for a further month.
On removing the brace eight weeks later her ring finger was still bent, very painful and the skin was burning and red/purple in colour. Our client returned to the A&E department of her local hospital. Her ring finger was warm and infection was suspected. There was no movement in the knuckle joint of her ring finger. Her local hospital arranged for her to be transferred to another hospital in the locality to see the Orthopaedic team. The Orthopaedic team ruled out infection. It was established that our client had been given incorrect treatment as only the tip of her ring finger should have been strapped, not the whole ring finger. As a result of the incorrect treatment the knuckle joint of her ring finger had seized up and she had no movement in that joint.
Our client continued to experience pain and burning to her ring finger and so sought further advice at hospital. She was informed that she had tendon damage to her ring finger. The pain and stiffness had now also spread to her middle finger and little finger. A cast was placed on the tip of her ring finger in an attempt to straighten her finger. On removal of the cast there was very little movement to her ring finger due to continued stiffness and pain.
Our client was provided with a full finger cast in a further attempt to straighten her ring finger. Her ring finger was inflamed and she continued to experience extreme discomfort and burning. Her little finger was also painful. Our client developed an extensor lag and was diagnosed with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). The pain and stiffness reached a static point with only a small possibility of the pain reducing over time. The pain experienced by our client interfered with her work and home life, particularly as she was right handed.
How were Waldrons able to help?
A claim was investigated and expert medical evidence obtained from a Consultant Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon which was supportive of the case. The expert was of the opinion that the application of the splint that ran the whole length of the ring finger was incorrect.
A Letter of Claim was submitted to the Hospital Trust upon receipt of which the Trust admitted liability. Settlement was reached in the sum of £20,000.
What did our Client say?
Happy with the positive result of her claim, our client also wrote that her solicitor, Louise Smith, had ‘excellent communication and good advice’.
What do I need to do next?
If you have concerns about any medical treatment you have received, please contact one of the Medical Negligence Solicitors at Waldrons where we will provide an initial assessment of the claim free of charge.
