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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Paradise
Posts: 855
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Paradise
Posts: 855
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Certainly CRPS is on the list of possible complications. I think that is there is a question of mismanagement as you went originally for what clinically would appear to be a hip stress fracture. X-rays early on are almost always negative (but later show a callous formation). In my opinion, generally, when a female patient who is a runner comes in with a sudden onset of hip pain that occured while running, regardless of the x-rays being done or not (although should be done!), it is a stress fracture until proven otherwise. If the patient is handled in a cavalier fashion as you were, then it can progress and fracture completely and lead to AVN with eventual hip replacement. An MRI would have revealed that and despite all, I would have thought you should have been given crutches on the first visit and rendered non-weight bearing until sufficient healing prevailed. I am unclear as to why and on what he performed surgery.
Secondly, your complaints of color changes, etc, all point to post-surgical CRPS for which the best outcomes occur with early diagnosis and treatment. Sounds like that did not really occur. Nevertheless, without delay you need to get yourself to an pain management specialist who is experienced in treating CRPS patients NOW! Your PCP likely will not have a good experience base to deal with this, the ortho should but may be in denial so it is incumbant upon you to get to the right doc.
As for med-legal issues, there probably is some basis for action but you would have to talk to the PM doc (once you get there!) or perhaps get another ortho opinion (one who doesn't associate with your surgeon) for that. There are errors of ommission (ex: not recognizing the CRPS and referring, not ordering the MRI or recognizing a potential hip stess fracture) and errors of commission (screwing up the surgery). Assuming you have CRPS (though you may not), even a perfectly performed surgery that was indicated, that orthopedically, had excellent results, can end up with complications of nerve damage or CRPS. And it is not malpractice, rather maloccurance. If the surgeon screwed up technic-wise or in another way that is decidedly below the standard of care, then you may have a reason to go after him, if that is your desire.
More emergently, you need to get to pain management ASAP, another ortho and perhaps a neurologist for assessment and tests for possible surgery related nerve damage. Lastly, you may want to talk to an attorney...
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02-11-2010, 11:54 AM
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