On October 6, 2023, a Connecticut medical malpractice jury returned its verdict in the amount of $2,590,194 in favor of the plaintiff who claimed he suffered permanent injury from improperly treated compartment syndrome after he had fractured his leg. The six-person jury deliberated for four hours before it found that an orthopedic surgeon at Stamford Hospital breached the standard of care in treating the man’s fractured leg in 2016, finding that the hospital was 40% at fault and the orthopedic surgeon was 60% at fault. The defendant hospital had settled the man’s Connecticut medical malpractice claim for an undisclosed sum before trial.
The former dance instructor had fallen at home and fractured his left leg on May 25, 2016. He arrived by ambulance at Stamford Hospital, where he was initially treated for his fracture and then was under the care of a resident who allegedly failed to provide proper care that led to the man developing compartment syndrome in his left leg that was not appropriately treated. The plaintiff alleged in his Connecticut medical malpractice lawsuit that the medical staff at the defendant hospital failed to properly monitor and treat his progressing compartment syndrome, leading to the need for 15 surgeries and inpatient hospital treatment until July 2, 2016.
As a result of the failure to receive timely and appropriate medical care, the man lost the use of his left leg and now uses crutches or a wheelchair to move around.
Compartment Syndrome
Acute compartment syndrome is a condition in which there is increased pressure within a closed osteofascial compartment, resulting in impaired local circulation. Without prompt treatment, acute compartment syndrome can lead to ischemia and eventually, necrosis.
Fascia is a thin, inelastic sheet of connective tissue that surrounds muscle compartments and limits the capacity for rapid expansion. In the leg, there are four muscle compartments: anterior, lateral, deep posterior, and superficial posterior. The anterior compartment of the leg is the most common location for compartment syndrome. This compartment contains the extensor muscles of the toes, the tibialis anterior muscle, the deep peroneal nerve, and the tibial artery.
Acute compartment syndrome can occur with any condition that restricts the intracompartmental space or increases the fluid volume in the intracompartmental space. Acute compartment syndrome can occur without any precipitating trauma but typically occurs after a long bone fracture, with tibial fractures being the most common cause of the condition, followed by distal radius fractures. Seventy-five percent of cases of acute compartment syndrome are associated with fractures. After fractures, the most common cause of acute compartment syndrome is soft tissue injuries. Other causes of acute compartment syndrome include burns, vascular injuries, crush injuries, drug overdoses, reperfusion injuries, thrombosis, bleeding disorders, infections, improperly placed casts or splints, tight circumferential bandages, penetrating trauma, intense athletic activity, and poor positioning during surgery.
Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency, so prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, immediate surgical fasciotomy is needed to reduce the intracompartmental pressure. The ideal timeframe for fasciotomy is within six hours of injury, and fasciotomy is not recommended after 36 hours following injury. When tissue pressure remains elevated for that amount of time, irreversible damage may occur, and fasciotomy may not be beneficial in this situation.
If necrosis occurs before fasciotomy is performed, there is a high likelihood of infection which may require amputation. If infection occurs, debridement is necessary to prevent systemic spread or other complications.
After a fasciotomy is performed and swelling dissipates, a skin graft is commonly used for incision closure. Patients must be closely monitored for complications which include infection, acute renal failure, and rhabdomyolysis.
If you or a loved one have suffered serious harm or death as a result of medical negligence in Connecticut or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Connecticut medical malpractice attorney, or a medical malpractice attorney in your state, who may investigate your medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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