£300,000 Settlement for Client Following Negligent Knee Surgery

Jacqui Hayat, Partner in our Clinical Negligence department acted for a client who has recently received a six-figure settlement and admission of liability from Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust after a steroid injection was negligently administered at the end of a knee arthroscopy procedure at the King George Hospital in Ilford.

The negligence left the patient with a septic knee, severe arthritic progression in the knee, the requirement for a knee replacement and has also left her at possible risk of having an above the knee amputation.

Our client, aged 47, underwent a knee arthroscopy surgery followed by a steroid injection into the knee after being diagnosed with meniscal tears and an osteoarthritic knee. 

After the surgery, she began to experience signs of infection from the surgical site, including oozing which later turned into a gaping, bleeding wound. She was in agony during this period and scored the pain in her knee as 10/10. Her knee became very swollen and warm, and bloody fluid was secreting from the wound through the dressing.

Our client was admitted to hospital and multiple surgical washouts were performed.

She underwent an ultrasound which revealed fluid in the knee and she was discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of a right septic knee.

Unfortunately, her knee continued to be problematic with both mobility and stability. She had to use a crutch and could not sleep as a result of the pain in her right knee.

She suffered a progression of increasingly severe and intrusive symptoms of osteoarthritis, accelerated by the deep knee joint infection and she had to undergo a total right knee replacement far earlier than would have been the case.

Expert evidence established that it was negligent to administer the steroid injection at the end of the knee arthroscopy. It was well recognised at the time that administration of steroids after a knee arthroscopy significantly increases the risk of infection in the joint and was inappropriate.

Our client has not fully recovered. She lives with ongoing pain and her function and mobility remain significantly reduced. Expert evidence confirmed that her mobility issues will become more severe with time, and the likelihood is that she will require a second knee replacement at around the age of 80.

Our client was left at a higher risk of suffering further infections in the knee, at risk of early failure of a knee replacement and at low risk of having to have an above knee amputation.

Jacqui was able to obtain an admission from the NHS Trust that the administration of the steroid injection did in fact amount to a breach of their duty of care. Jacqui was then able to settle this case during negotiations and obtain £300,000 in compensation for our client.

If you feel you have a claim, our team of clinical negligence solicitors are here to listen and help you work out whether compensation may be available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at Taylor Rose on 020 3540 4444 or email Jacqui directly.