Abstract
Background: Orthopedic foot/ankle surgery is a high risk specialty when it comes to malpractice claims. This study aims to evaluate the incidence, characteristics and outcome of claims in this area. Methods: This was a retrospective, 10-year claim analysis, with data from an anonymous database. Baseline claim/claimant characteristics were collected from all orthopedic foot/ankle-related cases. Results: Of 460 claims in total, most were related to delay in/wrong diagnosis or to (complications of) elective surgical procedures. Whether a claim was settled was related to type of injury (fracture) and type of claim (diagnostic mistake). Median amount disbursed in settled claims was €12,549. Claim incidence did not increase over the years. Conclusion: Missed fracture diagnosis and “failed”/disappointing results of elective surgical procedures were the most common causes for claims. Sufficient knowledge of missed (foot) fractures and clear communication/expectation management before elective procedures could help to improve quality of healthcare and patient satisfaction.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 85-93 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | European journal of orthopaedic surgery and traumatology |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2021 |
Keywords
- Ankle
- Foot
- Malpractice claims
- Orthopedic surgery
- Trauma surgery