Amputation of Limbs from Necrotising Fasciitis
If necrotising fasciitis is not treated in time, the amputation of one or more limbs may be necessary. If this has happened to you or your loved one, you could be entitled to compensation for the terrible impact this has had on your life. Contact a solicitor to find out more.
How does necrotising fasciitis lead to amputation?
Necrotising fasciitis is an aggressive bacterial infection that causes the tissue to break down and die. This is called tissue necrosis. When the tissue becomes necrotic it cannot be saved and so must be surgically removed, a procedure known as surgical debridement.
If a large area of tissue has become necrotic, it will all have to be removed, leaving a patient with a large defect. If necrotising fasciitis develops in one of more of the limbs, it may be that so much tissue needs to be removed that an amputation is necessary.
Compensation for necrotising fasciitis amputation
Having an amputation will of course be devastating. It will turn a patient’s life upside down and will often be accompanied by emotional trauma. If this is something that has happened to you or your loved one, you will undoubtedly be wondering whether anything could have been done to save your limb.
This is entirely dependent upon the way in medical professionals handled the situation. Necrotising fasciitis is a fast-moving infection; the bacteria reproduce at an alarming rate, spreading across the body and quickly creating more and more necrotic tissue. It must, therefore, be diagnosed and treated without delay.
If doctors diagnose the infection in a timely fashion and proceed to emergency surgery, they will have provided a good standard of care. Unfortunately, however, there are times when medical professionals fail to realise that a patient has necrotising fasciitis. This means the bacteria continue to spread across the body, leading to a severe infection and an extensive area of necrotic tissue.
If this delay in diagnosis and treatment results in the amputation of a limb, it is very likely that medical professionals will be to blame. Their failure to make a quick diagnosis and act with urgency made the amputation of a limb necessary, something which could have been avoided with better care.
Necrotising fasciitis solicitors
If you suspect that your necrotising fasciitis was not diagnosed and treated promptly, and this resulted in the loss of a limb, do not hesitate to contact a solicitor. It is very possible that you will be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation, allowing you to recover financial redress for the pain, suffering and financial loss you have incurred.
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