Instructions to represent a client who suffered a serious vascular injury following knee surgery, leading to extensive nerve damage, chronic pain and lasting mobility problems. After obtaining specialist medical evidence and securing admissions of negligence from the hospital, we helped the client achieve a £450,000 settlement to reflect the long-term impact on his independence, health and ability to work.
Summary
The Claimant underwent surgery on his right knee after experiencing persistent pain and mobility difficulties. Following the operation, he suffered significant bleeding and developed a serious vascular complication behind the knee, which was not promptly recognised and treated.
The resulting damage affected the surrounding nerves, leaving him with chronic pain, swelling and substantial restrictions on walking. We pursued a claim against the hospital, which ultimately admitted key failures in the surgical decision-making, consent process and subsequent care. The claim concluded with a settlement of £450,000 plus legal costs.
Context
Before the operation, the Claimant was a manual worker. His knee problems affected his ability to work, but the complications following surgery had a far greater impact on his life.
After being discharged, he experienced severe bleeding from the wound, followed by increasing pain and swelling throughout his right leg. Investigations eventually identified a large collection of blood and a false aneurysm behind the knee. A false aneurysm occurs when blood escapes through a damaged artery and collects in the surrounding tissues.
The vascular injury caused progressive nerve damage and required further surgery. The Claimant was left with persistent nerve pain, significant swelling and severely restricted mobility. He could walk only short distances with walking aids, struggled with stairs and had to move home. He required ongoing assistance and was ultimately unable to return to work.
Challenge
The claim involved complex questions about both the original operation and the subsequent management of the vascular injury.
Specialist evidence was needed to establish whether the surgery had been appropriate, whether the Claimant had given informed consent to the procedure performed and whether earlier investigation and treatment would have prevented the lasting nerve damage.
The Defendant’s own serious incident investigation identified missed opportunities to intervene earlier. However, establishing the full extent of the negligence and its consequences required further independent evidence from specialist orthopaedic and vascular surgeons.
The financial consequences also extended well beyond the initial injury. Chronic pain, psychological difficulties, reduced mobility and the inability to work all needed to be assessed to ensure that the claim reflected the Claimant’s ongoing and future needs.
Solution
We obtained and reviewed extensive medical records, including additional records that had to be pursued from several healthcare providers. We instructed specialist experts to investigate the surgical decisions, the vascular injury and the consequences of the delay in treatment.
The evidence identified concerns about the decision to perform an additional high tibial osteotomy, whether the risks and alternatives had been properly explained, and failures to obtain urgent vascular assessment when the Claimant’s symptoms persisted.
The hospital ultimately admitted that the additional procedure was not indicated, that the Claimant had not given proper informed consent to it, and that these failures amounted to negligence. Causation was also admitted.
Further evidence was obtained concerning the Claimant’s chronic pain, psychological wellbeing, rehabilitation and future care requirements. This enabled the financial claim to reflect the wider consequences of his injury rather than focusing solely on the immediate surgical complications.
Following settlement discussions, the Defendant made a formal offer of £450,000, which the Claimant accepted.
Impact
The £450,000 settlement provided substantial compensation for the consequences of the injury, including the impact on the Claimant’s independence, employment prospects and long-term wellbeing.
The hospital’s admissions also provided an acknowledgement of important failings in his care. For the Claimant, whose life had been significantly changed by the complications, the settlement brought the claim to a conclusion and provided financial support for the consequences he continued to experience.
This case demonstrates the importance of investigating not only what went wrong during surgery, but also whether complications were recognised and treated promptly. Taylor Rose’s clinical negligence team combines specialist medical evidence with a detailed assessment of the practical and financial consequences of an injury, helping clients pursue compensation that reflects their individual circumstances.
