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Compartment syndrome - Blood vessel, nerve and muscle cell damage
Our Clinical Negligence team has an excellent understanding of compartment syndrome and its consequences. The condition is a complication of an injury to muscle fibres and may be caused by negligent medical treatment. Additionally, negligence may arise because medical practitioners have failed to recognise compartment syndrome. It is a surgical emergency situation.
Compartment syndrome results from excessive bleeding into muscle compartments that do not readily expand. The bleeding increases the pressure within the compartment, restricting circulation and depriving the muscle fibres of oxygen. This can result in death of the muscle tissue. Unfortunately, blood thinning medication can increase the likelihood of compartment syndrome significantly.
Once compartment syndrome has developed, the only treatment is radical surgery to release the pressure within the muscle. If the muscle tissue has already died, then amputation of limbs will be unavoidable, or if the patient has abdominal compartment syndrome, failure of major abdominal organs and eventually death may follow.
The decision to undertake a particular medical procedure, or to prescribe a particular medication, must always be a reasonable decision in the circumstances at that time. If the decision was unreasonable and no competent medical professional would have taken that course of action, the medical practitioner is in breach of the duty of care owed to the patient.
At Blake Lapthorn solicitors, we investigate all of these areas to determine whether the emergency situation could have been avoided. If you suffered from medical error, we can help you obtain maximum compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
Telephone us on 0844 620 6200
Email us at blclaims@bllaw.co.uk
Compartment syndrome results from excessive bleeding into muscle compartments that do not readily expand. The bleeding increases the pressure within the compartment, restricting circulation and depriving the muscle fibres of oxygen. This can result in death of the muscle tissue. Unfortunately, blood thinning medication can increase the likelihood of compartment syndrome significantly.
Once compartment syndrome has developed, the only treatment is radical surgery to release the pressure within the muscle. If the muscle tissue has already died, then amputation of limbs will be unavoidable, or if the patient has abdominal compartment syndrome, failure of major abdominal organs and eventually death may follow.
The decision to undertake a particular medical procedure, or to prescribe a particular medication, must always be a reasonable decision in the circumstances at that time. If the decision was unreasonable and no competent medical professional would have taken that course of action, the medical practitioner is in breach of the duty of care owed to the patient.
At Blake Lapthorn solicitors, we investigate all of these areas to determine whether the emergency situation could have been avoided. If you suffered from medical error, we can help you obtain maximum compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
Contact the Clinical Negligence team
Telephone us on 0844 620 6200
Email us at blclaims@bllaw.co.uk
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Call us between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, or use the enquiry form outside office hours
Or call us on 0844 620 6600
