Private doctor ignored clear signs of hip dysplasia
Will Jones secured damages of £350,000 on behalf of a young girl whose hip dysplasia was missed by a private doctor despite her showing clear signs of the condition.
When Amber* was two-years-old, her family and nursery workers noticed she had an unusual gait and appeared to walk with a limp. When she was three-and-a-half Amber noticeably waddled, and her mother took her to see a private consultant at the BMI Garden Hospital in Hendon.
The doctor concluded that her gait was due to muscle weakness and referred her to a physiotherapist and a podiatrist for insoles. He did not investigate the possibility of hip dysplasia or refer her for X-rays.
At the time of the examination Amber's left hip was majorly subluxated. Her gait was notably abnormal - she walked with a lurch and her legs were unequal in length. If the doctor had examined her thoroughly, hip abduction would have clearly been restricted.
Months went by and Amber's walking problems continued until finally, aged five, X-rays revealed that she had left hip dislocation. She underwent major surgery to reposition the hip joint and adjust surrounding muscles and bones and was then put in a full body cast to keep her hips in place.
Unfortunately, further surgery was needed a few weeks as the hip re-dislocated. Metal plates and screws were used to hold the bones in place, which were later removed in another procedure.
Amber, who is now in her mid-teens, will likely need more surgeries as she grows, especially to reshape her hip and thigh bones. Doctors are unable give a full picture of her long-term outlook until she finishes growing.
There is a small risk that future surgeries could cause a condition where the bone loses its blood supply, which can lead to further complications. She will also need another operation to remove the remaining metal implants. The surgeries have left her with visible scars.
If Amber's hip condition had been diagnosed at BMI Garden Hospital, she would have had surgery by age three-and-a-half, avoiding later complications. This would have reduced the need for multiple surgeries, improved her long-term outlook, and delayed or possibly prevented future arthritis and hip replacements.
Will successfully settled a medical negligence claim against the private doctor and secured damages of £350,000 for Amber. This will provide for any future surgeries, aftercare and therapies she may need as well as the purchase of specialist equipment and home adaptations.
After the settlement Amber's mother said: "Will Jones worked tirelessly on our daughter’s case. Beyond serving as our legal counsel, he became our therapeutic counsellor, life adviser, motivator, and friend. With a gentle, thoughtful manner, Will was consistently calm, strong, and supportive.
"He guided us through every aspect of our complicated case, always keeping his focus on what mattered most - our daughter, her health, and her future care. He explained complex legal issues with clarity, and met our moments of frustration or impatience with kindness and understanding.
"Will is a true expert in his field and shows extraordinary dedication to each of his cases. We are forever grateful to Will and the Fieldfisher team for their unwavering commitment and care."
* name changed
Contact us
For further information about hip dysplasia claims and medical negligence claims, please call Will Jones on 0330 460 6822 or email will.jones@fieldfisher.com.
Alternatively
- You can speak to our medical negligence solicitors on freephone 0800 358 3848
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