Compartment Syndrome Malpractice Attorneys

Compartment syndrome is a medical emergency. Without fast treatment, it can cause permanent nerve damage, muscle death or the loss of a limb.

Patients often develop the condition after a broken bone, a crush injury or surgery. Severe pain and swelling should prompt immediate action. When doctors dismiss these symptoms or delay treatment, a manageable injury can become a lifelong disability.

At McKeen & Associates, PC, we investigate cases involving a failure to diagnose compartment syndrome, delayed fasciotomy and other serious medical errors.

Why Compartment Syndrome Is So Dangerous

Muscles are divided into groups called compartments. Each compartment is surrounded by fascia, a strong layer of tissue that does not stretch easily.

Bleeding or swelling inside a compartment causes pressure to rise. Because the fascia cannot expand, that pressure begins to restrict blood flow. The muscles and nerves are then deprived of oxygen.

Permanent damage may begin within four to six hours. A doctor who waits overnight to examine a patient may lose the chance to save the affected limb.

The main treatment is a fasciotomy. During this emergency procedure, a surgeon cuts through the skin and fascia to release the pressure.

Warning Signs Doctors Should Recognize

Medical professionals should monitor patients closely after fractures, crush injuries and orthopedic procedures. They should check for the “5 Ps” of compartment syndrome:

• Pain: Severe pain that seems far worse than the injury would suggest, including pain when the fingers or toes are gently stretched
• Pallor: Skin that becomes pale, dusky or unusually cool
• Paresthesia: Tingling, numbness or a pins-and-needles feeling
• Pulselessness: Loss of a pulse in the affected limb, which is often a late sign
• Paralysis: Weakness or an inability to move the limb

Doctors should not wait for every sign to appear. Pulselessness and paralysis may mean that severe damage has already occurred.

Medical Errors That Can Cause Compartment Syndrome

A compartment syndrome lawyer may investigate negligence involving:

• Tight casts or bandages: A fresh fracture may continue to swell. Medical staff should loosen, split or remove a restrictive cast when pain increases.
• Poor postoperative monitoring: Nurses, residents and surgeons should respond to reports of severe pain, swelling or numbness after surgery.
• Improper surgical positioning: Leaving a patient in one position for too long can place harmful pressure on a limb.
• Delayed fasciotomy: Waiting too long to relieve the pressure can cause irreversible nerve and muscle damage.

These errors can prevent the medical team from treating compartment syndrome while the damage is still reversible. Reviewing the patient’s records, nursing notes and treatment timeline can show when symptoms appeared and how long providers waited to respond.

Time Was Critical, And The Medical Team Failed To Act

If you lost a limb or suffered permanent nerve or muscle damage because your symptoms were ignored, contact McKeen & Associates, PC, immediately.

Our compartment syndrome malpractice attorneys can review the timeline of your care, identify missed warning signs and determine who may be responsible. We will seek answers, demand accountability and pursue compensation for the harm you suffered. Call CALL today.