What is the name of your state? CO
I originally had surgery in August to remove a glomangioma (glomus cell tumor) on the rear of my thigh. I consulted a cosmetic dermatologist who performed a biopsy on another glomangioma lower on my leg. He did not feel comfortable performing the surgery on the much larger tumor on my thigh. I consulted an orthopedic surgeon. I was told by the surgeon during the initial consultation that the scar would be much less noticeable than that from the previous doctor, and that the only real risks were the anesthesia and recurrence of the tumor.
A month after the surgery the incision that had been closed with Steri-strips and was 90% healed, suddenly split open(only internal stitches were used). I went back to the orthopedic surgeon who advised me to use wet dry bandages on the incision and let the 4mm diameter hole heal or she could bring me back into surgery, clean up the incision and lessen my scaring. I opted for the second surgery in mid october. The surgeon made a larger incision and stitched it using mattress stitch. Although the surgeon had just repaired and closed with surgical glue a surgical incision that had been open for more than 5 weeks, no antibiotics were prescribed. Two weeks later there were signs of infection, she left the stitches in for 1 more week and put me on antibiotics. 2 weeks after she removed the stitches the incision split open again to more than double the original size of the hole. Now 4 months after the original surgery I am seeing a wound care specialist and my wound is almost healed into a scar that resembles an anus(no joke).
Throughout this time period there were several unreturned telephone calls, and several instances where I felt like I was not being given the time I needed considering the situation. The doctor continuously apologized, but provided no hint as to why this kept occuring except to say that it was shearing. Shouldn't I have been told to try to minimize shearing and advised to avoid putting any pressure on my thigh. I decided to start carrying a pillow with me to sit on after the second surgery to keep the pressure off the incision hoping that the second incision wouldn't split. I was also continually put into the care of the surgeon's surgical assistant.
I forgot to mention that I was not required to get a pre-op physical and I've heard that diabetics have problems with wound healing...next week I am going to my PCP for a diabetes test. I also forgot to mention that the surgeon removed an eliptical shaped piece of skin directly over the tumor to reduce the chance of it coming back. During the second surgery she further removed more tissue and skin. After it split open the second time the Surgical Assistant postulated that maybe they needed to do a skin graft(shouldn't this have been considered after it split the first time?)
I had also informed my surgeon of my allergy to Shellfish...they felt that my gastrointestinal symptoms after eating shellfish did not constitute an allergy and used betadine anyway...for the first two weeks following each surgery my incision leaked iodine.
My question is do I have any type of case against this surgeon?
I originally had surgery in August to remove a glomangioma (glomus cell tumor) on the rear of my thigh. I consulted a cosmetic dermatologist who performed a biopsy on another glomangioma lower on my leg. He did not feel comfortable performing the surgery on the much larger tumor on my thigh. I consulted an orthopedic surgeon. I was told by the surgeon during the initial consultation that the scar would be much less noticeable than that from the previous doctor, and that the only real risks were the anesthesia and recurrence of the tumor.
A month after the surgery the incision that had been closed with Steri-strips and was 90% healed, suddenly split open(only internal stitches were used). I went back to the orthopedic surgeon who advised me to use wet dry bandages on the incision and let the 4mm diameter hole heal or she could bring me back into surgery, clean up the incision and lessen my scaring. I opted for the second surgery in mid october. The surgeon made a larger incision and stitched it using mattress stitch. Although the surgeon had just repaired and closed with surgical glue a surgical incision that had been open for more than 5 weeks, no antibiotics were prescribed. Two weeks later there were signs of infection, she left the stitches in for 1 more week and put me on antibiotics. 2 weeks after she removed the stitches the incision split open again to more than double the original size of the hole. Now 4 months after the original surgery I am seeing a wound care specialist and my wound is almost healed into a scar that resembles an anus(no joke).
Throughout this time period there were several unreturned telephone calls, and several instances where I felt like I was not being given the time I needed considering the situation. The doctor continuously apologized, but provided no hint as to why this kept occuring except to say that it was shearing. Shouldn't I have been told to try to minimize shearing and advised to avoid putting any pressure on my thigh. I decided to start carrying a pillow with me to sit on after the second surgery to keep the pressure off the incision hoping that the second incision wouldn't split. I was also continually put into the care of the surgeon's surgical assistant.
I forgot to mention that I was not required to get a pre-op physical and I've heard that diabetics have problems with wound healing...next week I am going to my PCP for a diabetes test. I also forgot to mention that the surgeon removed an eliptical shaped piece of skin directly over the tumor to reduce the chance of it coming back. During the second surgery she further removed more tissue and skin. After it split open the second time the Surgical Assistant postulated that maybe they needed to do a skin graft(shouldn't this have been considered after it split the first time?)
I had also informed my surgeon of my allergy to Shellfish...they felt that my gastrointestinal symptoms after eating shellfish did not constitute an allergy and used betadine anyway...for the first two weeks following each surgery my incision leaked iodine.
My question is do I have any type of case against this surgeon?
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