Background: A 56-year-old man, who worked as a cook in a supermarket, suffered lacerations on the back of his dominant right hand. He suffered lacerations to his right index finger and the back of the large joint of his long finger. Immediately after the injury, one of the man`s staff members took him to the emergency room of a local hospital. The wounds were sewn by a medical assistant who was supervised by an emergency physician. At the time of discharge, the diagnosis was: “finger laceration without tendon injury, hand laceration without tendon injury”. Biceps tendon ruptures are most often caused by a sudden injury or lifting of a heavy object. If the elbow suddenly straightens against resistance, the force can cause a fracture. These injuries are more common in men aged 30 or older, especially athletes, bodybuilders and heavy workers. Other risk factors include smoking and corticosteroids, both of which affect tendon strength. Proximal biceps tendon ruptures are more common than distal tendon ruptures. Muscular, nerve, and tendon injuries can occur in many parts of the body, including the back, neck, foot, ankle, and shoulder.
Carpal tunnel, ulnar canal, radial tunnel, ulnar neuropathy, ulnar neuropathy and median neuropathy are common nerve damage that can occur repeatedly or traumatically in the workplace. A plaintiff must first choose the right court, and then legal action can be taken by handing over the formal legal documents to the appropriate person. The laws governing the appropriate procedure for this purpose must be strictly observed. A typical law states that an action can be brought against the defendant by service of a subpoena or petition. Previously, common law actions had to be brought under highly technical forms of action, but now it is generally sufficient to simply serve documents containing facts describing an accepted cause of action. If such service is effected correctly, the defendant has taken reasonable notice of the claim against him and the court acquires jurisdiction over him. In some cases, the law requires service of the subpoena or memorandum on a specific official, such as a U.S. Field Marshal, who is responsible for service on the defendant. The classic sign of biceps tendon rupture is the sensation of a sudden “bang” at the level of the injury. Other symptoms may include: A few months after surgery, the man began a fall of the uninjured ring finger of his right hand, also known as the “flail finger,” likely caused by the collapse of the ring finger tendon, when the tendon of the long finger was tightened by the plastic surgeon during reconnection surgery. Most injuries to the finger of the mallet can be treated without surgery. Doctors recommend that ice be applied immediately and that the hand be raised above the level of the heart.
A doctor may use a splint to keep the fingertip straight (lengthwise) until it heals. In most cases, a splint is worn all day for eight weeks. Over the next three to four weeks, most patients begin wearing the splint less frequently. Although the finger usually regains acceptable function and appearance with this treatment plan, many patients are unable to regain full fingertip lengthening. Scenarios that can lead to a negligent tendon injury claim include the following acts or omissions by primary care physicians, emergency practitioners, and orthopedic surgeons: A person must have a legal right before taking legal action. This legal right implies a duty owed to a person by another person, whether it is a duty to do something or a duty not to do something. If the other person acts unlawfully or does not act as required by law, such conduct constitutes a breach or violation of that person`s legal duty. If this breach causes damage, it forms the basis of a cause of action. The injured party may seek redress by taking legal action. In recent years, our specialist lawyers have helped many people pursue claims for careless treatment of tendon injuries after a late diagnosis.
Such delays often result in a worse outcome than if the tendon injury had been treated within an acceptable time frame. After timely surgery to repair distal ruptures of the biceps tendon, strength in supination can return to 95% of normal and biceps muscle strength to 90-95% – in other words, a restoration of the vast majority of functional arm use. In the case of distal biceps tendon ruptures, if surgery is delayed, the tendon may be more difficult to repair because it can be retracted. As soon as the possibility of direct repair is lost, reconstruction with another tendon may be necessary – for example, the neighboring brachial tendon. In some cases, a transplant may be necessary. It is also important to note that the patient returned to the emergency department three more times in the two weeks following their first emergency room visit. While the lack of diagnosis of tendon rupture can occur without negligence, there can be no excuse for not treating this patient adequately during three additional visits. It is therefore very important that anyone considering a negligent tendon injury claim knows what is at stake and makes an informed decision as to whether or not to proceed. Cases can also be complicated, depending on the factual history and the number of experts needed. For example, if a patient`s tendon rupture is neglected in the emergency department, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and treatment, we need to get evidence from an emergency expert to meet the standard of care.
If this expert is favorable, we must examine the causality with an experienced orthopedic surgeon who will give his opinion on whether the patient`s outcome is worse due to the delay and what the patient`s result would have been if the delay had not occurred.
