Michigan Spinal Epidural Abscess Lawyers

A Michigan spinal epidural abscess lawyer can help if you or someone you care about was the victim of a medical misdiagnosis.

We file medical malpractice lawsuits against hospitals and doctors in cases involving medical errors involving conditions of the spine.

The failure to diagnose a spinal condition can result in significant permanent injuries to the patient. A lengthy spinal abscess diagnosis delay can cause paralysis and neurological damage.

The results are devastating to the patient and the family. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you get compensation for your losses.

• What is a spinal epidural abscess?
• How do doctors diagnose the condition?
• Can I sue for a failure to diagnose an epidural abscess?
• How do I file a medical malpractice lawsuit?
• Spinal epidural abscess settlement example

What is a Spinal Epidural Abscess?

A spinal epidural abscess is a disorder caused by an infection in the area between the bones or discs of the spine. The spinal infection is usually caused by bacteria but can be caused by fungus. It may be seen in patients with a history of back surgery or other invasive procedure of the spine, bloodstream infections, and bone infections of the spine.

Spinal abscess symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Back pain
• Bowel or bladder incontinence
• Pain at the surgery site

A patient may also have drainage coming from the surgical wound site that provides evidence of an infection.

How do Doctors Diagnose a Spinal Abscess?

Physicians are trained to suspect a spinal epidural abscess when the patient presents to them with the signs and symptoms of the condition.

Timely diagnosis is important to prevent permanent damage. Tests used to diagnose the condition include a blood culture, complete blood count, and a CT Scan or MRI of the spine.

The goal is to eliminate or reduce the pressure that the abscess is putting on the spinal cord to prevent further loss of function.

Treatment for Spinal Epidural Abscess

When a timely diagnosis is made of the condition the treatment of spinal epidural abscesses typically includes surgery and antibiotics. In some cases, the treatment may include only antibiotics. Antibiotics will be given typically for 4-6 weeks to make sure the infection clears up.

If the abscess is placing pressure on the spinal cord, the surgeon will perform surgical decompression of the spinal cord. The purpose is to reduce and remove the pressure to prevent permanent damage to the central nervous system. A common surgery performed is a laminectomy in which the surgeon removes the lamina, which is the bone that covers the spinal canal. This surgical procedure may be necessary for patients with significant infections of the spine.

Can I Sue for a Failure to Diagnose an Epidural Abscess?

When a doctor or hospital fails to diagnose, or if there was a misdiagnosis of a spinal epidural abscess, it can give rise to a lawsuit.

Cases involving medical errors are known as medical negligence or medical malpractice lawsuits. These lawsuits seek to hold medical professionals liable for harm to a patient caused by medical mistakes. Any delay in treatment of an infection to the spine can result in permanent paralysis.

How Do I File a Medical Misdiagnosis Malpractice Lawsuit?

There are several things that determine if you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. To sue a doctor or hospital, you must show a medical professional failed to treat you as a reasonably competent doctor would under the same circumstances. This is medical negligence. You must also prove that you suffered injury or harm due to negligence. For a spinal epidural abscess, it is well-known that a delay in treatment will likely result in serious harm.

Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers will get your records and radiology studies. We will carefully review everything with our in-house team. After our review, we will consult with top medical experts to confirm that you were the victim of medical malpractice. If the medical experts confirm that you have a case, we will prepare all required legal pleadings and documents to start the process. We will then file a medical malpractice case for you.

How Much are Settlements for Spinal Abscess Cases?

The settlement payout amount is different for every spinal abscess malpractice case. The amount is based on the strength of the liability claim against the medical provider and the damages suffered by the patient. For cases that involve permanent harm, the settlement payout compensation is substantial.

Under Michigan law, a malpractice victim can receive both economic losses and non-economic losses. Economic losses are financial losses, such as lost income and medical bills.

Non-economic losses are damages for physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and disability. These damages are also for your loss of enjoyment of life.

For lawsuits involving medical malpractice involving a spinal epidural abscess, the settlements are often significant. This is because the patient suffers both significant personal injury damages and economic damages. A patient with permanent damage to the spinal cord is often debilitated, cannot work and earn a living, and requires lifetime care and treatment. These economic losses alone can total millions of dollars, especially with a younger patient with a normal life expectancy and the inability to earn a living.

Spinal Epidural Abscess Case Study

A 25-year-old man went to the hospital emergency department with complaints of sharp upper and mid back pain. He did not have any previous trauma or injury. He was evaluated and discharged home with pain medications.

He returned to the same emergency room the following day. His complaints were similar to the prior visit. The medical staff did not order any radiology studies of his back. He was diagnosed with a muscle strain and sent home.

The next day, he returned back to the hospital in excruciating pain. An MRI of his back was performed and identified a spinal epidural abscess. He was taken for emergency spine surgery.

Unfortunately, the delay in surgery resulted in paralysis and neurological injury. A lawsuit was filed against the hospital and doctors. The case settled for $2,750,000.

Contact a Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Contact our experienced medical malpractice lawyers today to find out if you have a spinal abscess medical malpractice case. We will listen to your story and start working on your case immediately. If you have a case, we will get all of your medical records and radiology films and review them with a nationally recognized physician expert witness.

There is no fee for the consultation or case review. If we accept your case, there will only be a legal fee if you win a settlement. And, we pay the case costs and expenses.

There are strict time deadlines for filing lawsuits. Call now to avoid missing the cut-off date.