Supporting a client who suffered an infection following a hip replacement

Our client had bilateral osteoarthritis of his hips. He underwent a hip replacement and was discharged from hospital despite oozing coming from the wound.

Our client ended up having to undergo drainage of the hip and made a very slow recovery, also requiring treatment with antibiotics. Infection was diagnosed, and he required revision surgery.

Expert evidence was obtained from an Orthopaedic Surgeon who was of the opinion that there was a failure to offer our client a revision operation earlier. Had that revision operation been performed and undertaken earlier, he would have ended up in a better position with his mobility and would have been able to walk. Instead, following the surgery, he was left wheelchair bound.

This was a difficult case to quantify because of our client’s age and his pre-existing problems, but eventually it was possible to secure an award of £100,000.00.