61-year-old Female Sustains Right Posterior Leg Ulcer Due to Nursing Home Neglect

Type of Injury: Pressure Sores/Ulcers and Skin Breakdown; Surgery Required

Type of Case: Settlement

Settlement Amount: $250,000

On July 29, 2009, F-61 underwent a right total knee arthroplasty. On May 5, 2011, due to a septic right total knee arthroplasty, F-61 underwent a right total knee resection and insertion of antibiotic spacer at Central DuPage Hospital. On May 14, 2011, F-61 was admitted to the defendant’s facility from Central DuPage Hospital for post-surgery rehabilitation. Upon her admission to the defendant’s facility, the defendant was obligated to change the dressing on the right knee. Upon her admission to the defendant’s facility, the defendant was obligated to assess the skin daily under the right leg immobilizer to check for, inter alia, skin breakdown, infection, necrosis, etc. Despite the aforementioned, the defendant allowed the condition of F-61’s right leg to deteriorate necessitating additional surgery, causing unnecessary pain and suffering, and permanent injury.

On August 3, 2011, due to a right posterior leg ulcer, F-61 underwent an excisional debridement of right posterior leg ulcer to tendon and fascia .

Plaintiff contended that staff failed to assess the skin daily under the right leg immobilizer that would have prevented skin breakdown and pressure sores from forming and, then, failed to properly assess his skin condition or treat his pressure ulcers once they developed.

This lawsuit was pending in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, IL.

The above summary is specific to a particular case and is not intended as a projected outcome on any other matter.