Table 2.
Case reasons per settlement, defendant, or plaintiff ruling.
| Reason for Malpractice Claim | Defendant Verdict n (%) | Plaintiff Verdict or Settlement n (%) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarring | 2 (%) | 0 (%) | .306 |
| No Scarring | 28 (%) | 15 (%) | |
| Overheating/electric shocks | 3 (%) | 1 (%) | .711 |
| No overheating/electric shocks | 27 (%) | 14 (%) | |
| Nerve damage/paralysis | 1 (%) | 1 (%) | .609 |
| No nerve damage/paralysis | 29 (%) | 14 (%) | |
| Malpositioned SCS | 2 (%) | 1 (%) | 1.000 |
| No malpositioned SCS | 28 (%) | 14 (%) | |
| Lead defect | 5 (11.1 %) | 5 (11.1 %) | .205 |
| No lead defect | 25 (55.6 %) | 10 (22.2 %) | |
| Infection | 5 (%) | 0 (%) | .047 |
| No infection | 25 (%) | 15 (%) | |
| Hematoma/Paralysis | 0 (0 %) | 2 (4.4 %) | .020 |
| No hematoma/paralysis | 30 (%) | 13 (%) | |
| Battery Defect | 7 (%) | 5 (%) | .237 |
| No battery defect | 23 (%) | 10 (%) | |
| Allergic Reaction | 1 (%) | 0 (%) | .313 |
| No allergic reaction | 29 (%) | 15 (%) | |
| Unspecified Problem | 4 (%) | 0 (%) | .138 |
| No Unspecified Problem | 26 (%) | 15 (%) |
Table 2: Claims filed due to infection related to SCS were more likely to result in a defendant verdict (p = .047), whereas claims filed due to neurological deficit were more likely to result in a plaintiff verdict (p = .020).