Quadriplegia From Spinal Surgery Errors

A spinal cord injury that causes quadriplegia is one of the most devastating outcomes a patient can face, especially when it results from a preventable surgical mistake. If paralysis follows a spinal procedure, a Phoenix medical malpractice lawyer can help determine whether the injury was caused by negligence and whether the patient or their family has a valid claim for compensation.

Quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia) occurs when the spinal cord is damaged in the cervical region of the neck, interrupting the brain’s ability to send and receive signals to the body. Injuries at this level often result in paralysis of both the arms and legs, loss of bodily function, lifelong dependence on caregivers, and a significantly reduced quality of life.

What Types of Spinal Surgeries Can Result in Surgical Errors and Quadriplegia?

Spinal surgeries of the cervical spine present the risk of rare surgical errors that could cause quadriplegia, or complete paralysis. Spinal surgeries most commonly associated with errors causing quadriplegia include the following:

• Cervical spine surgery on C1-C7 (cervical spine discs)
• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), or the removal of a disc from the front of the neck
• Spinal decompression surgery
• Posterior fossa surgery

Although the risk of quadriplegia or other severe adverse outcomes of spinal cord surgery is only about 1%, the impacts on a victim who suffers this type of medical malpractice are life-altering, resulting in diminished quality of life and shortened life expectancy.

What Factors Increase the Risk of Quadriplegia From Spinal Surgery Errors?

Surgeons owe a duty of care to their patients, requiring them to provide treatment that meets the accepted standards of the medical community. When a provider breaches this duty of care to a patient and the patient suffers an injury and damages, it constitutes medical malpractice. The consequences of quadriplegia cause devastatingly severe lifelong economic and non-economic damages. Factors that increase the risk of errors causing quadriplegia include the following:

• The location of the surgery on the spine, with the risk of the most severe paralysis in surgeries of the upper spine in the cervical region
• The type of surgery performed
• A patient’s underlying medical condition
• The expertise, skill, and experience of the surgeon and surgical team
• Post-operative bleeding, swelling, or infection

It’s crucial to discuss and fully understand the potential risks and benefits of any surgery, especially cervical spine procedures. If a doctor fails to adequately inform a patient of the risks of a medical procedure, they may be held liable for damages due to the lack of informed consent.

What Common Surgical Errors That Cause Quadriplegia

Because spinal cord tissue is extremely delicate and cannot regenerate, even minor mistakes can result in permanent paralysis. Errors that commonly lead to quadriplegia include:

• Direct trauma to the spinal cord from improper tool use or excessive force
• Damage to blood vessels supplying oxygen to spinal nerves
• Uncontrolled post-operative swelling, hemorrhage, or infection
• Malpositioned hardware such as screws, rods, or plates

Any of these errors may deprive spinal nerves of oxygen or physically destroy nerve tissue, leading to irreversible paralysis.

How a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help

A spinal surgery error resulting in quadriplegia creates overwhelming medical costs, lifelong care needs, lost earning capacity, and profound emotional suffering. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can investigate the surgical error, consult medical experts, identify all liable parties, and pursue compensation for medical expenses, future care, lost income, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one suffered paralysis after spinal surgery, contact Knapp & Roberts to discuss your legal options and next steps.