Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim If Surgery Caused Nerve Damage? Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim If Surgery Caused Nerve Damage?

Nerve damage during surgery is most often caused directly (such as with a surgical instrument) or indirectly (such as via an anesthesia error).

In the first case, the slip of a scalpel or another medical instrument may cut, clamp, or burn a nerve. During hip replacement surgery, this may affect the sciatic nerve, which could result in drop foot, or the femoral nerve. During knee replacement, this may affect the peroneal and tibial nerves.

An anesthesia mistake can cause nerve damage in a number of ways, including:

• if blood flow is blocked en route to the nervous system or to particular nerves during general or local anesthesia, nerves may become permanently or partially damaged;
• if the needle used to inject the anesthesia injures nerve tissue;
• if the patient is placed in a position that restricts blood flow to the nerves.

Nerve damage may manifest as a temporary pins-and-needles feeling, paralysis, temporary or permanent loss of feeling, loss of motor function (such as with a brachial plexus injury), or scarring. Surgical mistake attorney Chris Mellino welcomes you to contact our Cleveland office for a free consultation if you suffered any of these after an operation.