Problems After Shoulder Surgery and Medical Malpractice Lawyer

 

If You Are Suffering From Complicated or Problems After Shoulder Surgery You Should Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bend, Oregon

 

The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body, if not the most complex. Despite it being strong and resilient, the shoulder is not impervious to injury or damage. Indeed, shoulder surgery is one of the more common surgeries that is performed. According to statistics, there are over 820,000 people living in the United States with a shoulder replacement. When the shoulder doesn’t need to be replaced, there are rotator cuff surgeries, which statistics indicate that there are over 460,000 of these procedures performed each year in the United States. Although the vast majority of these procedures are performed without an issue, unfortunately, far too many result in personal injuries due to medical errors or malpractice. Our medical malpractice lawyer in Bend, Oregon knows that a common sign of this is any type of problems after shoulder surgery.

If you or a loved one have indeed had too many problems after shoulder surgery, a medical malpractice lawyer in Oregonsuch as ours might be a good idea. There are many reasons for this, including to recover compensation for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings, loss of consortium, and other damages. To learn more about your losses after a botch shoulder surgery caused by medical malpractice, call Kuhlman Law to learn more about your rights to compensation in Oregon.

Types of Shoulder Surgeries in Oregon

 

There are many different types of serious personal injuries that could cause damage to the shoulder that require surgery. Some of these damages may even be from degenerative conditions, and not necessarily from an accident like a car crash or a slip and fall. Some of the most common types of shoulder surgeries that could result in medical malpractice if improperly performed include the following:

 

Rotator Cuff Repair

Rotator cuff repair is a surgical procedure designed to address tears in the rotator cuff, a crucial group of muscles and tendons stabilizing the shoulder joint. There are four rotator cuffs and several other muscles that help move the shoulder. There is also the biceps longhead tendon which forms the socket part of the shoulder that acts as a pivot point. In addition, there are several bones that help provide structure to the shoulder, including those used by the rotator cuffs to help push, twist, pull, or otherwise move the shoulder.

Procedure: The surgeon meticulously addresses the torn tendon by either stitching together the torn edges or reattaching the tendon to the bone using specialized anchors. Sometimes these anchors are biotendonesis screws, otherwise more serious hardware is required.

Errors: There are many potential areas for medical malpractice with a rotator cuff surgery. The first is failing to properly repair the damage. Another is not using the correct sutures or repair materials. Sometimes a surgeon also does not debride enough of the dead tissue, whereas other times swelling to the joint can cause injury or nerve damage to the brachial plexus. To that end, nerve block procedures could also result in serious damage to the shoulder and arm during a rotator cuff repair. Thus, damage to nerves is a common complication for rotator cuff repairs. So can be damage to vital blood vessels or other structures, some which can have permanent effects on a victim and some which are irreparable. If you suspect that your rotator cuff surgery was marred by errors, contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Oregonfor help.

Labral Repair or SLAP Repair (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior)

Labral repair, specifically SLAP repair, targets tears in the labrum, a cartilaginous ring providing stability to the shoulder socket. The labrum is what forms the socket in your shoulder and it is formed from the proximal end, or the end closest to the body, of the biceps longhead tendon. The labrum is very strong and is on the anterior portion (or inside spot) of the shoulder blade. It is very important because it is a pivot point for the rotator cuffs and other important muscles or tendons in the arm. A SLAP tear refers to extensive damage to the labrum, which is a superior tear that starts anterior (inside) and extends all the way around to the posterior (back). Thus, injuries to the labrum can create extreme shoulder instability and range of motion restrictions that are permanent if not properly repaired.

Procedure: Surgeons utilize sutures to reattach or repair the torn labrum, a procedure often necessary for athletes engaged in overhead throwing sports. SLAP tears also occur in falls and some powerful car accidents, including due to seatbelts.

Errors: Like rotator cuff surgeries, there are many errors that may be due to medical malpractice. These errors are exactly like rotator cuff surgeries, but they also include errors in how the repair is performed. That can result in damage to the biceps tendons or actually to the arm itself. Some injuries could also be caused to the scapula or in the way that the labrum is repaired, or not properly repaired, and result in damage that is irreparable. Unfortunately, some botched SLAP procedures might even result in the need for a total shoulder replacement.

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure employed for various shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff and labral tears. It can also be used to scope out damage from burs or other damage to the bones, tendons, or structures. Indeed, bone burs on the humerus can result in damage to the tendons of the shoulder, which can be repaired with an arthroscopy. Although arthroscopic surgeries are the future and really minimally invasive, they can cause serious injuries when done improperly or rushed.

Procedure: Through small incisions, an arthroscope (tiny camera) is inserted, allowing surgeons to visualize and address issues with specialized instruments. Other incisions are used to blow up the joint with air pressure and gases, while others are used to move instruments in and out.

Errors: Medical malpractice for shoulder arthroscopies include those which are due to rushing or not visualizing the entire surgical field properly. That means the same as above for rotator cuffs, including nerve injuries or damage, as well as damage to blood vessels. Additionally, sometimes tools break and it can be more difficult to repair the damage done.

Shoulder Replacement Surgery (Shoulder Arthroplasty)

 

Shoulder replacement surgery becomes essential for severe arthritis or degenerative shoulder conditions. Additionally, extreme trauma could also cause serious damage that requires a shoulder replacement surgery. This removes damaged bone with hardware, which helps replace the joint and restore its ability to function properly.

Procedure: Damaged joint components are replaced with artificial counterparts, with options such as total shoulder replacement, reverse total shoulder replacement, and partial shoulder replacement.

Errors: There are many possible errors for a shoulder replacement surgery, including those which are permanent and life-changing. Some errors are obvious, such as when the joint needs immediate revisions or needs to be replaced prematurely.

Acromioplasty

Acromioplasty targets impingement syndrome, where shoulder tendons experience compression due to the acromion. This can be caused from sports, degenerative conditions, or from accidents such as a fall, vehicle accident, or nursing home abuse.

Procedure: Surgeons perform a minor removal of the acromion, creating additional space for tendons and mitigating impingement.

Errors: Like the other types of surgeries, there are many possible errors that could occur due to failing to visual the surgical field, improperly removing tissue or bone, or other slips of a device during a surgery.

If You Have Problems After Shoulder Surgery, Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bend, Oregon

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or wrongfully killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.