March 28, 2000

Donald Brown successfully defended a Louisville orthopedist from charges of using improper technique while removing leftover surgical hardware from a patient’s hip.  While extracting the compression screw, the surgeon fractured the patient’s proximal femur.  Two more surgeries were required to remedy the complication, and the patient is now left with one leg shorter than the other.  The Plaintiff sought over $350,000 in damages, claiming that if the doctor had used the proper technique, these problems would have been prevented.  The defense counter-argued that the removal technique was proper and that the bone in question is prone to fracture.  Furthermore, the Plaintiff’s prior leg injuries rendered the unfortunate complication more likely.  The Jefferson County jury concurred, awarding the Plaintiff nothing.