$1.5 Million Settlement Secured for Child After Hospital Negligence Leads to Foot Amputation in Virginia

Glen Sturtevant and Brewster Rawls recently secured a $1.5 million settlement in Virginia that highlights the devastating consequences when healthcare providers fail to properly monitor vascular complications following pediatric orthopedic injuries. This case serves as a crucial reminder of the standard of care required when treating children with fractures and the importance of thorough vascular examinations.

The Medical Timeline: A Preventable Tragedy

The case involved a young child who suffered a left femur fracture in a motor vehicle accident. During the child's three-day hospitalization, healthcare providers documented concerning symptoms that should have immediately raised red flags:

• Cool toes on the affected foot - a classic sign of compromised blood circulation

• Inability to move toes - indicating potential vascular damage

• Absence of documented vascular examination - a critical oversight in fracture care

Despite these warning signs, the child was discharged. Nine days later, the family was forced to return to the hospital when the child developed left foot ischemia - a condition where blood flow to the foot is severely restricted or blocked.

Advanced imaging revealed complete occlusion (blockage) of the popliteal artery, the major blood vessel supplying the lower leg and foot. By this point, the damage was irreversible, ultimately necessitating amputation of the child's left foot.

Understanding the Standard of Care in Pediatric Orthopedics

When treating fractures, particularly in the femur region, healthcare providers should regularly assess vascular status because:

1. Fractures can damage nearby blood vessels directly through bone fragments or swelling

2. Casting can create compartment syndrome if swelling occurs within the rigid cast

3. Children may not effectively communicate pain or numbness that adults would readily report

4. Early intervention can prevent permanent damage when circulation is compromised

Medical professionals are trained to monitor the "5 P's" when assessing potential vascular compromise: Pain (especially with passive movement), Pallor (pale or discolored skin), Paresthesia (numbness or tingling), Pulselessness (absence of pulse), and Paralysis (inability to move).

In this case, documented symptoms clearly indicated multiple warning signs that warranted immediate investigation and intervention.

The Lifelong Impact

Beyond the immediate trauma of amputation, this young patient will face numerous challenges throughout their lifetime, including prosthetic costs as the child grows, ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation services, adaptive equipment and home modifications, counseling to address trauma and adjustment, and lost opportunities in sports and physical activities.

The $1.5 million settlement helps address these extensive future needs, though no amount can fully compensate for the life-altering nature of this injury.

Protecting Your Child: What Parents Should Know

If your child suffers a fracture or orthopedic injury, important questions to ask healthcare providers include: Are you performing regular circulation checks? What symptoms should I watch for at home? When should I bring my child back immediately?

Don't hesitate to advocate for your child if you notice concerning changes in color, temperature, movement, or sensation in the affected area.

Experience in Pediatric Medical Malpractice Cases

At Rawls Law Group, we understand the complexities of pediatric medical malpractice cases. Since 1996, our team has represented families nationwide who have suffered preventable injuries due to medical negligence.

Pediatric medical malpractice cases require thorough investigation, extensive medical expert testimony, and experienced legal representation to achieve meaningful results for affected families. Our team works closely with leading medical experts to establish the standard of care and demonstrate how healthcare providers' failures caused preventable harm.

Every medical malpractice case is unique, and the outcome of one case does not guarantee similar results in another. However, this settlement demonstrates that healthcare providers can and must be held accountable when their negligence causes preventable harm to children.

Disclaimer: The outcome of any individual case depends upon the specific facts and circumstances of that case. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.