Ex-police officer in botched hip operation ordeal
ARETIRED police officer requires long-term support and has had multiple corrective surgeries after a botched hip replacement left him with unequal leg lengths.
Southport man Steven McNorton said he has suffered excruciating pain and said it was “lifechanging for him”.
Southport and Ormskirk NHS trust has admitted to a series of hip replacement errors and failings.
A pattern of shortcomings was found at the trust, after Southport-based law firm Fletchers Solicitors uncovered failings, and the trust said it was carrying out an “ongoing review” of matters surrounding the issue.
Steven first noticed clicking in his right hip in December 2016.
He reported it and a fracture was visible on radiograph reports.
Senior solicitor at the firm, Patricia Hitchen, said Steven needed to have surgeries, and has outlined how they went so catastrophically wrong.
She said: “On January 28, 2016, Steven underwent a right uncemented ceramic on ceramic Total Hip Replacement at Southport Hospital.
She added: “Following that procedure, Steven underwent a similar surgery on June 30, 2016, to his left hip.
Ms Hitchen said: “Ceramic is a commonly used material to reduce friction in hip implants and utilises a liner which sits inside a metal shell in the pelvis (the socket).
“It is essential to insert the liner so that it sits flush within the rim of the shell. In both of Steven’s surgeries that did not happen, and this was apparent on the immediate post-operative x-rays.
“Had they been checked then it would have been obvious to the surgeon that the liners were not sitting correctly and at that stage they could have been easily removed and correctly replaced.”
This error, however, was not noticed, she said. The right liner went on to fail massively, with the left also fracturing.
This meant Steven needed emergency hospital treatment, multiple revision surgeries and he suffered from deep wound infection.
Speaking about the ordeal, Steven said he has been “on lockdown” since 2017. He said he used to enjoy an active lifestyle before this, and loved doing
DIY projects and tending to his garden.
He said: “This thing for me.
“There is no indication will ever get better. do try to carry on as normal, but there is a payback every time because the pain is so monumental. And that is going to be with me forever.”
Of his long road to recovery, Steven said: “You’ve got to keep your head above water, but it has been a very difficult thing.
“Because you’re so isolated. You can’t just pop out to the shops, or drive to the countryside for a walk. Some days are quite dark, because you can’t move and your independence is completely taken away.”
Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust have admitted that
Iis a life-changing
Iboth implants were not fitted to a reasonable standard from the outset and also that the error was not noted during follow up.
It was accepted that the failure of both the implants was avoidable together with the multiple revision surgeries and the need for emergency hospitalisation.
The case was settled with a five-figure sum.
Dr Terry Hankin, medical director of Southport and Ormskirk Trust said: “We are aware of a small number of claims relating to orthopaedic procedures conducted between March 2012 and June 2016 which subsequently required revision (corrective) surgery. The surgeon involved left the Trust in March 2017. “With the support of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Trust is conducting an ongoing review of orthopaedic procedures that required revision surgery to identify any concerns related to individual surgical practice. We are in contact with the affected patients.”
Steven said the result was bitter-sweet.
He added: “It’s a funny feeling, because there’s never going to be any jumping for joy over something like this.
“There are some practical things that can now arrange to aid with my day-to-day activities, but ultimately, just want to move forward.”
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