Spinal Fusion Surgical Errors: Minnesota Medical Malpractice

Botched Spinal Fusion Surgeries Can Result in Significant Medical Malpractice and Horrific Pain and Suffering

A spinal fusion is one of the most complicated and risky surgeries.  This is because the surgical procedure is removing bone and disc, drilling and cutting near the spinal cord, and takes a lengthy amount of time to perform.  Even a small miscalculation can result in a massive injury, permanent debilitating, and even wrongful death.  Victims can be seriously injured or killed if the surgeon even loses concentration for a shear moment.  These injuries can be devastating to a victim and his or her entire family.  Unfortunately, it can also be Minnesota medical malpractice due to a surgical error.

Summary of What Happens During a Spinal Fusion

The dangers of a negligent spinal fusion procedure cannot be overstated.  Patients can easily become paralyzed during this type of procedure if a surgeon or medical time is negligent in anyway.

During this surgery part of the bone and discs are cut and scraped away from the vertebrae involved in the procedure—at least two vertebra because it is a multiple level fusion.  A bone graft or cement is used in the new space that was cut away.  Screws are drilled in at a very careful angle to avoid severing the spinal cord. These screws are the anchors for the rods which will be fixed in place to keep the two vertebrae from moving and impinging on nerves.

Surgical Errors During Spinal Fusions

There are many places where a spinal cord fusion could go horribly wrong.  While there are also significant risks of anesthesia malpractice and hospital malpractice in the pre-operation and post-operation care that a patient receives, surgical errors are more likely to be debilitating and dangerous.

Some common types of surgical errors during spinal fusion surgeries which may be Minnesota medical malpractice include the following:

• Severing the spinal cord while drilling the screws;
• Severing the spinal cord while removing the disc or bone;
• Improperly placing the bone graft or cement;
• Using the wrong type of hardware;
• Installing the the rods too loose so that they can move;
• Failing to install all the required hardware;
• Taking too long and putting too much stress on the patient’s body or causing too much blood loss;
• Putting too much pressure on the spinal;
• Severing a nerve root coming off the spinal cord;
• Damaging vital structures like nerves, vessels, or large muscles, tendons, or ligament groups; and
• Many other common causes.

Victims of a Failed Spinal Fusion Should Check with a Minnesota Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Negligent spinal fusions can result in significant and debilitating injuries to victims which may take months or years to heal, or may never heal.  If you believe that you or your loved one may have been the victim of medical malpractice, call to schedule a FREE appointment.  We accept cases throughout Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, or any other city.  Please call Kuhlman Law, LLC by dialing (612) 444-3374 to learn what your rights to compensation you may have.  You may also contact us using our easy and convenient “contact us” box at the bottom of our website.  If we accept your case, we will conduct a thorough investigation to get you the answers you deserve, all for free.  There is no risk, and you only pay us if we recover compensation for you.

We also handle cases throughout the state of Oregon including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.  Our Oregon office number is (541) 385-1999.