Amputation Due to Compartment Syndrome: $3 Million Settlement
Undiagnosed compartment syndrome results in amputation of right leg following knee surgery
2025 Medical Malpractice Settlement Report
By Robert M. Higgins, Attorney for the Plaintiff
Boston, Massachusetts
Case summary
On 6/14/18, the plaintiff underwent a right total knee revision surgery performed by the defendant orthopedic surgeon. The surgery went well and she was discharged with visiting nurses set up to evaluate the plaintiff while at home.
On 6/18/18, the visiting nurse called the defendant to tell him that she was concerned the plaintiff had a developing compartment syndrome. The plaintiff was told to go to the ED to be evaluated. When she arrived, she was seen by the defendant orthopedic physician assistant who noted the leg was painful with significant swelling. Without taking compartment pressure measurements, the defendant physician assistant stated there was no compartment syndrome. The defendant orthopedic surgeon came to the ED and saw the plaintiff as well. He also stated there was no compartment syndrome. He recommended she wear a brace on the leg to see if that helped.
Over the next 5 days, a visiting nurse called the defendant’s office twice to say the plaintiff was in severe pain and the leg was still very swollen. After the 2nd call, he asked the plaintiff to come to his office to be seen. When he saw her leg in his office, he finally took pressures in her leg compartments and they were grossly elevated. It was decided to take her to surgery immediately. Once he opened the leg, he noted a lot of grayish muscle indicating death of the muscle and tissue. He removed dead muscle and tissue and planned to see if the remaining muscle would survive.
The plaintiff underwent several more surgeries where dead muscle and tissue was removed. Because there was so much tissue removed, it was ultimately decided that her leg was not salvageable and she underwent a below the knee amputation of her right leg.
The plaintiff retained a surgical expert who was of the opinion that the defendants were negligent in failing to take pressures in the immediate post-operatively period. Had they done that the plaintiff would have diagnosed, treated and would not have lost her leg.
The case settled for $3,000,000 after discovery was completed.
Lubin & Meyer medical malpractice attorneys Andrew C. Meyer, Jr. , Robert M. Higgins and Andrew H. Miller represented the plaintiffs in this case.
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