Medical malpractice in hip and knee arthroplasty.
A survey of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons was performed to investigate the perceptions and experiences of medical malpractice litigation and related concerns among its active members. Responses showed that 78% of responding surgeons had been named as a defendant in at least 1 lawsuit alleging medical malpractice. Sixty-nine percent of lawsuits in the survey had been dismissed or settled out of court, and median settlement amounts were in the range of $51,000 to $99,000. Nerve injury was the most commonly cited source of litigation, followed by limb length discrepancy, infection, vascular injury, hip dislocation, compartment syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, chronic pain, and periprosthetic fracture. Survey data suggest that there are targets for surgeon education and awareness that could improve the quality of patient communication and the informed consent process.
Upadhyay
Ashish
A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65212, USA.
York
Sally
S
Macaulay
William
W
McGrory
Brian
B
Robbennolt
Jennifer
J
Bal
B Sonny
BS
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017008:Negotiating; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States