Ankylosing spondylitis and medical negligence | Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Blog | Kingsley Napley

I recently settled a claim for a client who had ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Our client developed a serious spinal cord injury following a relatively minor fall in his garden.

AS is an inflammatory condition, primarily affecting the spine. It can cause pain and stiffness and over time lead to some of the bones of the spine fusing. Sufferers are more vulnerable to spinal fractures, cauda equina syndrome and cardiovascular disease. It is very important that medical practitioners give due weight to AS when treating patients for other conditions and recognise fully the increased risks that are associated with it.

As a medical negligence solicitor, I am aware that this is not always the case and this can have a devastating impact. Here I look in more detail at this condition and the medical negligence risks.

AS is a form of spinal arthritis. The cause is not known, but there is an apparent link to a particular gene variant (HLA-B27). The main symptoms are back pain and stiffness, but AS can also lead to arthritis in other parts of the body as well as fatigue. In severe cases the bones in the spine may grow together, leading to a rigid and inflexible spine.

Ankylosing spondylitis and cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare complication of AS. It can occur when the nerves at the bottom of the spine become compressed. The symptoms of developing cauda equina can include leg pain or numbness, numbness in the saddle area and an alteration to urinary function. It is vital that cauda equina is diagnosed and treated quickly, otherwise it can lead to serious long-term disability, including limited mobility and problems with incontinence. If there is a delay in diagnosis, referral or treatment, then there may be a claim for medical negligence. My colleague Richard Lodge has written about the guidelines for referral in cauda equina cases here.  There is also more information about cauda equina compensation claims on our associated webpage.

Missed fractures and compensation

In those suffering from AS, osteoporosis can develop in the spine, increasing the risk of fracturing the bones in the back. This means that those treating a patient with AS, following an accident for example, need to be alive to the increased risks involved. As above, patients with AS may experience spinal fractures even after minor injuries. Fractures can be difficult to detect on standard radiographs. If a fracture is missed, this can have extremely serious consequences, including neurological deterioration leading to paraplegia.

In such situations there may be a medical negligence claim for compensation. The amount of compensation involved can be very significant where the injury is serious and leads to the need for lifelong care and treatment. If a patient requires adaptations to their accommodation or to move to a property that meets their needs, the associated costs may be able to be claimed.

Vision changes

Iritis (or acute anterior uveitis) is a condition which is sometimes associated with AS. It can lead to redness and sensitivity of the eyes along with blurred vision. It is again vital that swift diagnosis is made as without prompt treatment the condition can lead to a complete loss of vision. A patient with suspected iritis who attends at their GP should be urgently referred to an ophthalmologist. If there is a negligent delay then once again there may be a claim for clinical negligence.

How we can help

The team at Kingsley Napley are highly experienced in dealing with complex claims for clinical negligence including those relating to serious spinal injuries and failures in diagnosis. We are well versed in obtaining specialist independent expert evidence and in bringing arguments that there were failures by medical practitioners to properly recognise or give sufficient weight to an underlying condition.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you have any questions or concerns about the issues raised in this blog, please contact Aideen McGarry or any member of the Medical Negligence and Personal Injury team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aideen McGarry is a Senior Associate in the Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Department. Aideen has experience working on high-value clinical negligence and personal injury claims.