Nerve Damage from Surgery

Nerve Damage from Surgery

Surgery is invasive, and any invasive procedure comes with several risks. Even after successful surgeries, many people suffer from complications.

Nerves can be accidentally damaged when a doctor nicks them, cuts them, damages the myelin (sheath of protection), or causes the scar tissue to put pressure on a nerve.

Some types of nerve damage are the result of medical malpractice. If a surgeon was insufficiently careful, a victim could suffer nerve damage that could have otherwise been unavoidable.

Nerves could even be damaged during the administration of anesthesia.

There are 3 basic types of anesthesia: local, regional, and general. A mistake involving administration of any of the three types can lead to nerve damage.

Local anesthesia is administered with a syringe, and it is crucial to avoid direct contact between the syringe and a nerve.

Regional anesthesia generally involves the injection of an anesthetic into the spinal column, which contains a dense concentration of nerves, and is possible to damage this cluster of nerves when injecting with regional anesthetic, resulting in nerve damage.

General anesthesia could lead to nerve damage if the patient is in a position that could result in the pinching of a nerve.

Signs of Nerve Damage

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning sensation
• Muscle weakness
• Impaired mobility
• Complete loss of sensation

If you still experience nerve damage months after surgery, then you could be suffering a permanent problem.

Elements Needed to Prove Nerve Damage Medical Malpractice Case

A patient who may have suffered avoidable nerve damage during surgery must typically prove several elements in order to win a malpractice case:

• A medical professional owed a duty to the patient to act reasonably and follow the appropriate medical standard of care
• The medical professional breached this duty by acting negligently and thus not meeting the standard of care
• Harm or injury to the patient that resulted from the negligence
• Finally, damages exist that stem from the injury. For example, medical bills, time off work, affected activities, and other measurable losses

Filing a Claim or Lawsuit After Nerve Damage

If you or a family member have suffered from nerve damage, you may be entitled to compensation related to your damages. Contact Bonner Law at mbonner@bonner-law.com or call at 1-800-4MEDMAL for a free consultation. Mr. Bonner is an attorney with over 30 years of experience in medical malpractice litigation. We have over 30 years of experience representing patients and healthcare providers in medical malpractice litigation.