When
considering whether or not a disfiguring and disabling amputation involved any
measure of medical negligence in terms of some kind of medical error or
misdiagnosis resulting in an unnecessary limb amputation it becomes necessary
to try to understand some of the responsible medical considerations involved in
making that kind of radial, often emergency or trauma generated, medical evaluation
and decision.
M.E.S.S
When
both the patient and the amputated part(s) have arrived at the hospital, an
emergency room physician and often an orthopedic surgeon will assess the
probability that the severed tissue can be successfully reattached. This surgical procedure is called a “replantation”
of the severed limb. The “Mangled Extremity Severity Score” (MESS) is a
diagnostic tool used to diagnostically assess the probability of successful
replantation of the severed limb.
Numerical values are assigned to such factors as body temperature,
circulation, numbness, paralysis, tissue health, and the patient's age and
general health to support a final diagnosis as to the probability of a
successful reattachment of the limb. The total score is doubled against a
replantation procedure if blood supply to the amputated part has been absent or
diminished for more than six hours.
Usually more than one surgeon will concur on the final determination
about whether surgery should be performed to reattach the amputated part(s).
The doctors try to consider the wishes and lifestyle of the patient, especially
if it is a child. They also consider how
and to what extent the amputation will affect the quality of the patient’s life
and the resultant loss of ability to perform everyday activities due to the
amputation.
Possible
medical complications resulting from traumatic injury amputation:
- excessive bleeding and shock
- wound site infection
- muscle shortening
- pulmonary embolism
- death
The
physician and surgeon must weigh all of these types of elements before arriving
at a final decision and related prognosis.
Whether there is a chance of successfully reattaching the limb or not,
whether the patient is suffering or will likely suffer life threatening shock,
hemorrhaging, dangerous blood clots or is at risk of death if the amputation is
not performed on an emergency basis are to be carefully considered.
Adequate Initial Paramedical and ER
Response Saves Limbs
The
initial first aid, paramedical care or emergency care received by the patient immediately
after the traumatic injury causing an amputation has a critical impact on both
the physicians’ ability to salvage and reattach the severed part(s) and the
patient’s ability to regain feeling and function. Muscle tissue dies quickly. A properly-preserved body part can be
successfully reattached as much as 24 hours after the initial amputation injury
occurs. Tissue that has not been properly preserved will not survive for a
reattachment after approximately six hours.
Whether the injured person received adequate first aid, paramedical care
and ER care can limit what medical and surgical care he can be offered by a
physician and surgeon later on in the recovery process. Medical negligence occurring well before the
doctor arrives at patient’s bedside may have already sealed a patient’s fate
through no act of medical negligence by the treating physician at all.
Getting Legal Help
If you or a member of your family has suffered a traumatic amputation of a limb which you believe was the result of medical negligence involving diagnostic error or medical error it is very important to seek out the assistance of a medical malpractice attorney. Only an attorney can properly evaluate all of the facts and appropriately determine if you have been the victim of an instance of medical negligence or malpractice. The attorney can take steps to preserve and protect the legal rights of the injured person and recover related financial damages.
