The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 57, Issue 7 1013-1018, Copyright © 1975 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
The anatomy of orthopaedic malpractice. A study of two hundred and fifty cases
DC Kellsey
Nine per cent of all of the Aetna Life and Casualty Company's closed
malpractice cases during an eleven and a half-year period were orthopaedic.
Two hundred and eleven orthopaedists (164 Board-certified), twelve general
surgeons (eight Board-certified), and nineteen general practitioner-general
surgeons were involved. Allegations of improper treatment (seventy cases),
poor results (severty-four cases), postoperative infection including seven
cases of gas gangrene (thirty-one cases), diagnostic error (twenty-six
cases), back-surgery complications (twenty-six cases), miscellaneous
complications (sixteen cases), and cardiac arrest (seven cases) were the
grounds for these malpractice cases. When there was evidence of careful
clinical appraisal, good clinical judgment, impeccable surgical technique,
good doctor-patient rapport, and well documented records, the defense was
successful.