Spinal Cord Injury - Failed Spinal Fusion With Reflex Symapthetic Dystrophy
Failed Spinal Fusion with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. The plaintiff, a woman with a history of scoliosis, underwent spinal fusion surgery to alleviate pain in her low back and left leg. After surgery, she had a severe left foot drop with numbness and reduced sensation. Even after the plaintiff underwent a lumbar CT scan, which demonstrated misplaced screws, the defendant failed to bring the plaintiff in for corrective surgery. Two years later, when the plaintiff changed surgeons and underwent corrective surgery, she experienced significant relief. However, she was left with some permanent nerve damage from the previous surgery resulting in a mild foot drop.