Sciatic nerve injury: a medical malpractice case from The Law Offices of Robert Vaage

Disposition: (Settlement/Arbitration/Trial)	Settlement
Date:	8/3/2001
Type of Case:	Medical Malpractice
Allegation(s):	Sciatic nerve injury from hip injection
Result:	$305,000 present value
Case Name:	*Plaintiff vs. Doe Hospital*
Facts:
On April 8, 1999, the 38-year-old female plaintiff presented to the emergency room of Doe Hospital in excruciating pain. The ER doctor suspected she was passing a kidney stone and ordered an intramuscular injection of a combination of Phenergan and Dilaudid (Demerol-type medications) for the pain. The ER nurse injected the medication using a 22-gauge needle into the left hip region. Plaintiff sustained a sciatic nerve injury as a result of the injection.
Injury/Injuries:
Sciatic nerve injury, resulting in chronic regional pain syndrome. Plaintiff can no longer sit for long periods of time, nor walk for any distance. The pain also interferes with her sleep. Her treating physicians have listed her prognosis as "poor." Under the best case scenario, her pain can be "managed" with appropriate medications. However, the medications have caused chronic bowel-related problems, and dull her mental capacities.
Contentions:
Plaintiff alleged that the injection was improperly administered and was the direct cause of her sciatic nerve injury. Defendant alleged that the injection was given properly, and that there must have been "other causes" for the debilitating chronic pain which plaintiff suffered immediately following the injection, and from which she continues to suffer.
Special Notes:
Plaintiff demanded $685,000 in June 2001. Defendant Hospital responded with an offer of $75,000. Mediation was held before the Hon. Herbert Hoffman on July 27, 2001. The matter settled on August 3, 2001, for $305,000 present cash value; $205,000 cash and a structured pay-out of $302,138.63 over her expected life. < back to Medical Malpractice Case Histories from The Law Offices of Robert Vaage and www.vaagelaw.com