What Happened
Our firm successfully resolved a catastrophic medical malpractice case involving a preventable delay in diagnosing and surgically treating cauda equina syndrome, a neurosurgical emergency requiring immediate intervention.
Our client arrived at the hospital with classic red-flag symptoms, including severe low back pain, inability to walk, worsening numbness, and progressive urinary retention. Despite clear signs of spinal cord compression, hospital providers failed to obtain an urgent MRI, delayed neurosurgical treatment, and allowed the condition to worsen over several days.
The evidence showed that physicians incorrectly assumed an implanted spinal cord stimulator prevented MRI imaging and failed to verify whether the device was MRI-compatible. By the time the MRI was finally performed and emergency surgery occurred, the nerve damage had become permanent.
As a result of the delay, our client suffered permanent bowel and bladder dysfunction, chronic neuropathic pain, impaired mobility, repeated infections, and ultimately underwent a below-the-knee amputation. She now requires lifelong medical care, assistive devices, rehabilitation, and daily support.
Practice Areas Involved
This result arose from the kind of care reviewed on these pages. If something similar happened in your family, they explain what the records are read for.