Former Bluebird loses court claim over knee surgery
A FORMER Cardiff City player has lost a High Court damages claim against an experienced knee specialist over an alleged “surgical error”.
Roger Johnson, an ex-Bluebirds defender, brought a clinical negligence claim against Andrew Williams, accusing him of causing a “large defect” during an operation on his left knee in March 2017.
Now pursuing a career in coaching, Mr Johnson claimed that following the procedure he suffered continued swelling and pain and did not fully recover.
He alleged Mr Williams – a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has worked with Premier League football clubs and Premiership rugby teams – was “negligent” by damaging his medial retinaculum, a protective fibrous capsule in the knee.
However, in a ruling published yesterday, Judge Jeremy Hyam QC said there was not enough evidence to conclude the defect was caused by the surgeon.
The judge said: “In summary, the evidence adduced by the claimant and his expert has not been sufficiently cogent or compelling to allow me to conclude on the balance of probabilities that the defendant caused a 3cm diameter defect to the claimant’s medial retinaculum on 17 March 2017 in the course of the synovectomy procedure.”
Mr Williams denied causing the rupture, arguing other factors could have contributed to Mr Johnson’s
PA Reporter
condition, such as an infection or the player allegedly not complying with medical advice.
The surgeon and the ex-footballer attended a trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in May.
Satinder Hunjan QC, representing Mr Johnson, explained in written arguments that the former player suffered a knee meniscus tear on January 27, 2017, during a training session at Charlton Athletic FC.
He was advised surgery on the tear would see him “fully fit within 16 weeks” and was operated on by Mr Williams four days later, the barrister said.
But by late February Mr Johnson, who made more than 600 appearances during his career, was experiencing swelling and sharp pains across his knee.
He was later told his knee was infected and underwent urgent surgery on March 17, Mr Hunjan said.
A tear in the medial retinaculum was later diagnosed in an MRI scan performed on April 11 at the Fortius Clinic in London where Mr Williams practises.
Mr Hunjan claimed Mr Johnson intended to have a “relatively straightforward” procedure in March but no infection was found and he was “left with a large defect in his medial retinaculum, continuing significant problems and with the substantial uncertainty of his recovery and ability to return to elite football – the fact is that he never recovered following the surgery”.
“Despite an extensive period of rehabilitation, the claimant attempted to return to training in September 2017 but he was unable to continue playing at a high level due to the ongoing swelling and pain resulting from the damage caused during the surgery,” Mr Hunjan said.
He added that Mr Johnson “has been unable to continue his career as a professional footballer and has attempted to pursue a career in football coaching” as well as “a limited career undertaking media and related work”.
Mary O’Rourke QC, for Mr Williams, argued in her written submissions there was “no evidence, on the balance of probabilities, to support any significant defect being present on or immediately after the procedure on March 17”.
Mr Johnson played more than 100 times for the Bluebirds between 2006 and 2009, and was part of the side that reached the 2008 FA Cup final, where they lost out to Portsmouth.
He was voted the club’s player of the year for two years running.
As well as Cardiff City, he had stints at Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers, and loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham.