How Trivent Legal Uncovered a Delayed Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Abscess Leading to Permanent Neurological Damage  

A delayed diagnosis can turn a manageable condition into a severe health crisis. This was the case for a 51-year-old male patient who suffered irreversible neurological damage due to a delayed diagnosis of thoracic spinal abscess. This failure in timely medical intervention resulted in permanent dysfunctions that severely affected his quality of life. 

Case Overview: 

The patient’s care spanned over six months, involving more than 2,500 pages of medical records. Trivent Legal’s thorough examination of these records revealed critical oversights in recognizing and diagnosing spinal cord abscess, which ultimately led to the patient’s devastating outcome. 

Identifying Missing Critical Records: 

During an initial review, Trivent Legal noted the absence of critical nursing and physician progress notes for key periods. This finding was promptly communicated to the client, highlighting the potential impact on the case analysis. In the meantime, Trivent Legal’s expert focused on the available nursing flowsheets to identify key indicators of neurological symptoms. These flowsheets played a crucial role in detailing the condition’s progression leading up to the diagnosis. 

Trivent Legal’s Approach: 

We prepared a detailed medical chronology emphasizing the delay in diagnosing the abscess. By focusing on the signs and symptoms documented in the nursing assessments and highlighted abnormal test results we found that the treating physician failed to perform a thorough neurological examination at the right time. This allowed the epidural abscess to progress unchecked for four days, resulting in irreversible neurological damage. 

We also provided a special report with crisp and comprehensive expert comments, detailing the delayed diagnosis and the critical missed opportunities for timely intervention and established a clear link between the plaintiff’s condition and the delayed medical treatment, supporting the case for seeking damages  

Case Focused Areas: 

Medical Chronology 

Hot Links 

Expert Opinions 

Identification of Missing Records 

Conclusion: 

Our thorough analysis and expert report uncovered critical failures in diagnosing a spinal cord abscess, leading to permanent harm. By highlighting the missed signs and delays, we empowered the plaintiff to seek damages for the physical, emotional, and financial burdens resulting from this oversight. Our comprehensive approach not only revealed the breakdown in care but also supported the case for better compensation. 

If you need your case to be reviewed, please reach out to us at 610-674-6901 or email us at [email protected]