Table 3.
Complications following shoulder surgery.
| Complication | Number of lawsuits (%) | Settlement rate (%) | Physician loss rate (%) | Indemnity payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain and weakness | 26(65) | 3 (11.5) | 8 (30.8) | $679,909 ± $586,992 |
| Limited ROM | 23 (57.5) | 3(13) | 6(26) | $711,556 ± $651,193 |
| Surgical site infection | 6(15) | 1 (16.7) | 1 (16.7) | $768,091 ± $257,259 |
| Death | 5 (12.5) | 3(60) | 0 | $2,900,000 ± $2,969,848 |
| Nerve damage | 4(10) | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Anoxic brain injury | 2(5) | 2(100) | 0 | $3,150,000 ± $2,616,295 |
Number of lawsuits for each complication type following shoulder surgery, listed by frequency of each event in the database. Complications occurring one time only in the database are not included. Standard deviations were not included for complications with only one indemnity payment. ROM, range of motion; SD, standard deviation.