ABSTRACT

More than 20,000 spinal operations are carried out in the UK each year, and it is inevitable and unfortunate that mistakes will occasionally be made. Only careful attention to detail in the pre-operative assessment, meticulous surgical care and supervised post-operative management will ensure consistently good results.

This book illustrates the difference between the occasional inevitable complication that can occur in expert hands and avoidable mistakes.

chapter |3 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|9 pages

Why Do Patients Sue Their Surgeons?

chapter 2|8 pages

The Legal Process and Problems

chapter 3|11 pages

Informed Consent

chapter 4|4 pages

Positioning of the Patient

chapter 5|14 pages

Nerve Root Damage

chapter 6|7 pages

Cauda Equina Syndrome

chapter 7|5 pages

Damage to the Dura

chapter 8|9 pages

Spinal Infection

chapter 9|5 pages

Uncontrolled Haemorrhage

chapter 10|14 pages

Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc

chapter 11|7 pages

Root Entrapment Syndrome

chapter 12|9 pages

Spinal Stenosis

chapter 13|12 pages

Spinal Fusion

chapter 14|11 pages

Fractures of the Spine

chapter 15|9 pages

Spinal Tumours

chapter 16|5 pages

Scoliosis

chapter 17|4 pages

The Cervical Spine

chapter 18|3 pages

Negligent Medical Reports

chapter 19|11 pages

Risk Management