Orthopedic Surgery Expert Opines on Fatal Knee Surgery

Case Overview

This case takes place in Missouri and involves a female with arthritis in her left knee that was greatly reducing her mobility. She previously underwent radiofrequency ablation, but it was unsuccessful in managing her pain. The patient was admitted and prepped for surgery, however, the patient remained conscious after the initial administration of anesthesia. She was then administered a second round of anesthesia, was found to be unconscious, and the procedure was initiated. During the procedure the anesthesiolgist realized the patient was not breathing, and attempted to intubate her unsuccessfully. The patient eventually was found to be in cardiac arrest, and chest compressions were performed in the OR. As a result of this experience the patient suffers from permanent cognitive impairment.

Questions to the Orthopedic Surgery expert and their responses

Do you routinely perform knee arthroscopies?

In my practice I routinely treat patients with degenerative knee conditions.

Do you have experience working in outpatient surgical centers?

I have worked extensively in outpatient centers and am quite familiar with the practices and procedures of these types of facilities.

Do you believe there was a deviation in the standard of care that contributed to this patient's poor outcome? If so, please explain.

There seems to be a deviation in the standard of care. Patient safety and life were compromised when the airway was not protected. Additionally, the patient underwent a general anesthetic for a bilateral procedure that is entirely elective, with or without a defective operating room table.

About the expert

This board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon has 20+ years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery and is currently Professor and Chief of Adult Reconstruction in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at a major University medical center. He has published extensively with over 150 peer-reviewed and invited publications, in addition to many abstracts, book chapters, and online publications. He has been involved in over 40 grant-funded research projects and currently has 9 patents for Orthopaedic Technology. His research and expertise is frequently cited in regional and national publications and he specializes in Knee replacement surgery.