Back Surgery Errors: Potential for Nerve Damage

Given the proximity of the spine in the human body, any back surgery poses serious risks of nerve damage should surgeons erroneously make incisions or other actions during a back or spinal procedure. One of the most debilitating, and unfortunately common damages seen is nerve damage after back surgery error. Nerve damage poses lifelong complications for patients, including issues with mobility, pain, discomfort, and continued medical intervention to repair damaged spinal nerves and alleviate back pain. The potential for nerve damage in back surgeries is often limited by surgeons performing competently and with sufficient forethought as to the potential risks. However, in the event of malpracticing surgeons, the risk of nerve damage during back surgery is high.

Common Damages Associated with Back Surgery Errors

In many cases of back surgery errors causing nerve damage, patient damage claims include extensive requests for compensation to account for the lifelong debilitating nature of spinal and nerve injuries. The following lists commonly cited damage claim applicable to nerve damage caused by back surgery errors, including:

• Chronic pain and discomfort in the back, lower back, neck, buttocks, and legs

• Loss of mobility or physical capabilities, including partial paralysis or complete paralysis

• Future medical expenses related to correcting back surgery errors, as well as those medical expenses related to future surgical interventions to alleviate back pain and discomfort

• Future medical expenses related to rehabilitation and recovery from spinal and nerve injuries

• Lost income applicable to a given patient during recovery from their injuries, which may include compensation for injuries resulting in permanent or temporary disability preventing a patient from earning an income

• Other non-economic compensation claims, such as diminished quality of life, mental anguish, and emotional trauma

• Economic considerations relating to adjusting a patient’s home and lifestyle to address their current mobility and physical needs, which may be temporary or permanent

Damage claims are decided by a given patient and their legal counsel on a case by case basis, which requires an understanding of the current and future financial implications a given nerve injury may present a patient and their household.

Getting Legal Help with Nerve Damage Malpractice Claims

Only an attorney, through information provided by the patient and other sources, can determine if a surgeon acted negligently when causing the patient’s nerve damage. Back surgery procedures pose inherent risks for nerve damage, and in order to pursue a viable malpractice claim, patients and their legal counsel must establish that a surgeon deviated from the standard of care during the surgical procedure, which ultimately caused nerve damage to the patient.