Expert: Jack Schroder Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: Wrist arthroscopy
Question I had a wrist arthroscopy for a degenerated TFCC tear. At my first physical therapy visit the therapist noticed a finger lag in the ring finger after she removed the surgical packing. The therapist called the orthopedics office to advise them of the finger lag. My Dr. Was not avialable, she spoke with a PA on call. the therapist placed my hand in a splint and told me to follow up in orthopods office. At the post op visit the orhto doc removed the splint and noted the finger lag but was not concerned. One month later, he finally became concerned and told me he "might have clipped a tendon" and advised further surgery for repair. As it turns out, three tendons were severed and could not be repaired due to the length of time involved. The tendons had retracted and could not be rejoined so he did a more difficult side to side repair. After coming out of the cast from the second surgery my wrist and hand were frozen. Again, no one was concerned. I was referred to a rheumatologest and pain clinic. Since that time I have has three more intensive hand surgeries and left with a very painful and malfunctioning hand. The surgeon states the the tendons "ruptured" due to chronic inflammation and he is not at fault.
Answer You have probably learned from your experience that many orthopedists do not know about hands. Too bad.
However, you should see a malpractice lawyer. Ask your Bar Association for a list of malpractice lawyers. If you can find one who has had experience with hands he will be your best choice. Surgery on the hand, wrist or even the forearm is not easy. The surgeon must pay attention to his incisions and arthroscopy is not the best approach because the surgical site is limited to view. If that surgeon did not realize from your post op visit what had happened, he is demonstrating his ignorance. Apparently he did the second surgery, the attempt to correct his first blunder, and there he confirmed his lack of experience.
Your lawyer needs to find a good orthopedist with hand specialty as his expert. He should go to a University Medical School for that. If your repeated surgeries were all done by this guy, you have yourself to blame too, and your lawyer will have to explain that if your case goes to trial. If as I suspect this same surgeonm did all the work, then you had better go to a recognized hand surgeon for help. Maybe someone who knows what he is doing can help you. But get going because as you have learned, time is important. When you find a lawyer, work with him to find an expert to care for your hand and also testify for your lawyer.
