The plaintiff, who was in his mid-60s at the time, underwent bilateral hip replacements in 2022: the first was done in May 2022 and the second was done in June 2022. The first hip replacement was completed without complications but the second hip replacement resulted in a persistent infection…medicalmalpracticelawyers, $2M Baltimore Medical Malpractice Verdict For Persistent Prosthetic Hip Joint Infection Leading To Sepsis And Stroke
The plaintiff was prescribed an antibiotic but continued to experience fever and pain. The surgeon performed a washout procedure to address infection concerns but the infection was not resolved. A few days after being discharged from the hospital, the plaintiff returned to the hospital with complaints of fever, chills, and lightheadedness. An infectious disease consultation resulted in a recommendation that the prosthetic hip be temporarily removed and antibiotic spacer beads placed but the surgeon opted for two more washout procedures instead, which were performed in August 2022.
The plaintiff’s condition worsened over the next few weeks during which his hip became septic and he suffered from memory loss, organ failure, and unequal pupils. A neurologist diagnosed the plaintiff with having suffered small strokes that may have been caused by his septic hip.
On August 30, 2022, the plaintiff’s infected prosthetic hip was removed and temporary antibiotic spacer beads were implanted. The plaintiff was finally discharged from the hospital on October 19, 2022.
The plaintiff’s Baltimore medical malpractice lawsuit was not critical of the infection that developed after surgery but rather alleged that the surgeon breached the standard of care by continuing with washouts after the first washout failed to resolve the infection, which resulted in a delay of three weeks in properly addressing the infection.
The plaintiff allegedly suffered permanent physical and cognitive injuries, and he uses a walker or a cane due to the loss of strength and feeling in his legs.