Shoulder arthroscopy is
a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a small incision is made to
insert a camera and get better visuals of the magnified image of the joints.
This technique has been considered far better than X-rays results because of the
kind of visuals that it provides. The size of the arthroscope is 4mm in
diameter that has a light source and a magnifying lens. By inserting the small
camera, the surgeon gets a clear picture of the shoulder joints which helps in
diagnosis and further course of action. Though the procedure is simple and the
chances of risks are less, patients might face complications in the long run
due to the lack of proper standard of care by the health care professionals or
maybe because of the negligence of the doctors. In that case, a patient might
claim for the damages caused. A medical malpractice case is complex and
therefore, you should seek legal guidance from an attorney. The attorneys in
turn will seek medico-legal guidance from an orthopedic expert witness for getting case reviews and testimony during
depositions, trials and arbitrations.
Benefits of Shoulder arthroscopy:
Arthroscopy has several benefits because of the way in which it is performed. The advantages are as follows:
- Minimal pain
- Minimal swelling and inflammation
- Minimal scars because the size of the incision is tiny
- No need of staying overnight at the hospital
- The time taken for surgery is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Minimal stiffness
- Fewer risks and complications as compared to open surgeries
These are some of the reasons why arthroscopy is considered as the best surgical procedure.
Complications in shoulder arthroscopy:
As you can see that arthroscopy has several benefits, there are times when patients might suffer severe complications. The outcome of the surgery is going to be outstanding provided that the surgeon has done the procedure correctly and with care and caution. However, negligence on the part of the doctor can prove to be harmful and it can cause life-changing results. Some of the complications that might arise in the future include:
- Joint infection
- Swelling and inflammation of the Joints
- Bleeding and development of blood clots
- Tissue and nerve damage
- Frozen shoulder/Inability to move the shoulder
If you believe that you’re facing complications because of the negligence of the surgeon, you have the right to seek compensation for the same. However, before registering a case, you should hire an expert lawyer for the matter. The attorneys will ask for the medical records and will get in touch with an orthopedic expert witness to decide if there has been a case of medical malpractice. If the lawsuit is not filed on strong grounds, there can be chances of counter-attacks from the other end which may also include penalties. Besides this, a medical malpractice case is highly complex and without the support of an expert witness, it’s difficult to prove surgical errors and clinical negligence.
