Table 3.
Summary of Literature Detailing Spine-Related Malpractice Litigation.
| Author year | Country | Sample size | Time period | Data source | Spinal region | Pathologies | Patient allegations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Öhrn et al (2011) | Sweden | 182 | 2003–2005 | County Councils’ Mutual Insurance Company and Swespine | NM | Dural lesion (28.8%) | NM |
| Wound infection (21.6%) | |||||||
| Nerve tear (15.8%) | |||||||
| Machin et al (2018) | England | 978 | 2012–2017 | National Health Service (NHS) Resolution database | NM | Iatrogenic nerve damage (23%) | Judgment/timing (52.35%) |
| Cauda equina syndrome (22.82%) | Interpretation of results/clinical picture (26.07%) | ||||||
| Inadequate decompression (15.85%) | Unsatisfactory outcome to surgery (19.63%) | ||||||
| Quraishi et al (2012) | England | 235 | 2002–2010 | NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) database | NM | Missed fractures (19.14%) | NM |
| Prolapsed intervertebral disc disease (16.17%) | |||||||
| Infections of the spine (14.46%) | |||||||
| Debono et al (2020) | France | 193 | 2015–2019 | Mutuelle d'Assurances du Corps de Santé Français (MACSF) | Cervical 27 (14.0%) | Decompensation of a preexisting myelopathy (15%) | Surgical negligence (29.5%) |
| Thoracic 11 (5.7%) | Cauda equina syndrome (12.5%) | Delay in diagnosis (18.7%) | |||||
| Lumbar 144 (74.6%) | Radicular injury (10%) | Surgical site infection (16.6%) | |||||
| Multiple 11 (5.7%) | Malposition of cages/prostheses with radiculalgia requiring revision surgery 10%) | ||||||
| Ahmadi et al (2019) | Germany | 340 | 2012–2016 | Review Board of the North Rhine Medical Council (NRMC) | NM | New neurological deficit (37.6%) | NM |
| Chronic pain (22.1%) | |||||||
| Insufficient symptom relief (15%) | |||||||
| Agarwal et al (2018) | USA | 98 | 2010–2015 | Westlaw online legal database | Cervical 22 22.5%) | NM | Lack of informed consent (29.9%) |
| Thoracic 7 (7.1%) | Failure to diagnose (19.5%) | ||||||
| Lumbar 45 (45.9%) | Failure to treat (20.8) | ||||||
| Sacral 1 (1%) | |||||||
| Not specified 23 (23.5%) | |||||||
| Grauberger et al (2017) | USA | 233 | 1980–2015 | WestlawNext database | Cervical 52 (22.3%) | NM | Surgical negligence (30.1%) |
| Thoracic 8 (3.4%) | Failure to diagnose or treat (20.7%) | ||||||
| Lumbar 132 (56.7%) | General malpractice (12.2%) | ||||||
| Not specified 41 (17.6%) | |||||||
| Makhni et al (2018) | USA | 103 | 2010 - 2014 | WestlawNext database | Cervical 27 (26.21%) | NM | Technical or judgment (65.05%) |
| Thoracic 8 (7.67%) | Nerve injury (40.77%) | ||||||
| Lumbar 64 (62.14%) | Lack of informed consent (33.98%) | ||||||
| Not specified 4 (3.88%) |
Abbreviations: NM: not mentioned.