Earlier diagnosis would have afforded an opportunity for the Defendant to splint the finger and to undertake soft tissue corrective surgery before it became deformed.
In 1997 after developing a swelling on her right finger this
young girl was investigated accordingly by the Defendant hospital
and underwent a biopsy of the cyst type lesion on her finger.
However, after the procedure the young girl was not followed up
accordingly even though the biopsy concluded that she had infantile
digital fibromotosis. This is a rare childhood condition
involving benign tumors that mainly affect the digits of the hands
and feet.
There then followed a five year delay before the condition was
eventually diagnosed after the young girl had again gone to her GP
expressing concern over the deformity of her finger. She was then
admitted to hospital for a surgical procedure to the finger and has
since been advised that she will need to undergo a further
operation in the future to try and straighten the finger.
Earlier diagnosis would have afforded an opportunity for the
Defendant to splint the finger and to undertake soft tissue
corrective surgery before it became deformed.
As a result of the Defendant's negligence, she has been left with
a disability of 2% and an obvious cosmetic deformity which will be
permanent unless she undergoes further surgery
Matters settled with the Defendant prior to Issuing Court
Proceedings and we were able to a settlement in the sum of £10,000
for the young girl.