Female Patient is Injured by Removal of Adhesive Medical Tape

Case Overview

This case involves an elderly woman who presented to the Defendant medical facility in Maine for shoulder surgery. In order to eliminate or reduce the risk of infection during the procedure, the treating physicians used antimicrobial tape on the woman’s skin. The surgery was successful, however the nurse removing the antimicrobial tape ripped it off very quickly. Due to the speed at which the tape was removed, a large chunk of skin was ripped off of the patient. It was alleged that the Defendant should not have removed the tape with this level of force.

Questions to the Orthopedic Surgery expert and their responses

Are you familiar with antimicrobial tape and have you used it?

I am absolutely familiar with the use of antimicrobial tape, and I use it on a daily basis.

What is the proper protocol for removing this type of tape?

The drapes, including the antimicrobial tape, are removed from the patient at the end of the surgical procedure. This process, following shoulder surgery in particular, is usually done by the sterile surgical team. Removing tape or any other adhesive product from elderly patients needs to be done with thought and concern for their skin integrity to avoid 'ripping a chunk of skin...' from the patient. There seems to be a breach in the standard of care in this instance.

About the expert

This qualified nurse has 30+ years of experience in the operating room setting, specializing in orthopedic surgery, and in the care of elderly patients undergoing orthopedic interventions.