Needle Stick - CRPS

If you or someone you love has suffered a needlestick injury, the Locks Law Firm can help. Unfortunately, needlestick injuries are very common occurrences in hospitals and clinics. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Virginia, there are nearly 800,000 incidents a year. A number of things can contribute to a needlestick injury: incorrect placement, improper injection of medicine, or improper volume of medicine. Whatever the cause of your needlestick injury, the Locks Law Firm can see to it that the negligent party is held accountable for his or her actions.

At the Locks Law Firm, you can call upon a team of individuals who specialize in IV injury, IV Infiltration, and medical malpractice should you require counsel or legal representation. To arrange a free, confidential consultation, contact the Locks Law Firm today. The value of an experienced attorney with a history of successful verdicts and settlements cannot be overstated; hiring such an attorney can prove the difference between your achieving a favorable resolution and coming out empty handed.

Needlestick Injury - Common Types

A needlestick injury is commonly thought of as being an accidental piercing of the skin by a sharp instrument. However, needlestick injuries can be far more severe and can vary greatly in type. Below you'll find information on some of the more common types of needlestick injury and the side effects that can result.

• Incorrect Placement of Needlestick - The placement of the needle is extremely important. If injecting a medicine into the muscle or fat tissue, a doctor or nurse should ensure that the host site has sufficient tissue. This is particularly true when the patient is a female, as their physiques are generally different from men's, and they are at greater risk for needlestick injury. A nurse or doctor should generally administer most injections to the hip or buttocks if the patient is female; though the deltoid (shoulders) is a common injection site in men, women tend to have less shoulder muscle, and the needlestick may cause unnecessary injury. If administering an injection into the buttocks, the medical professional should limit the treatment area to the top quarter of the muscle, where there tends to be more tissue. Injections in the bottom three quarters of the muscle can also cause injury. If a needle is placed in the wrong area, it can lead to permanent nerve damage, including sciatic nerve damage in the leg, as well as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). CRPS can occur as a result of damage to a nerve, and causes chronic, and often debilitating, pain in the affected limb, which can spread to other parts of the body.

• Volume or Delivery Errors - Another common contributing factor that can result in needlestick injury is the incorrect dosage of medication. If too much medication is administered (an incorrect volume) or medication is delivered too quickly, it can result in compartment syndrome, due to an increase in pressure in the affected area; burns, should the medication spread to surrounding tissues and have a potentially harmful pH; and necrosis (the premature death of affected cells). It can also result in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

• Medical professionals owe a duty of care to their patients. Needlestick injuries are preventable and should not occur if common sense, experience, and a reasonable standard of medical care are taken into consideration by the professional administering the injection. Because needlestick injury is preventable, the mere occurrence of such an injury may indicate that a medical professional failed to act as a competent peer would in the same circumstances. In such case, a medical malpractice claim can be filed to hold the negligent party accountable and to seek compensation for the victim's losses.

Contact a Locks Law Firm Needlestick Injury or CRPS Lawyer

To schedule a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation regarding a needlestick injury or CRPS contact the Locks Law Firm today. If you or a loved one has suffered permanent disability or impairment as a result of a needlestick injury, the Locks Law Firm can act to protect your legal rights to see that you are justly compensated for your losses and expenses. Though each case is unique, it may be possible to recover financial compensation for medical expenses, lifelong care, loss of income, and pain and suffering.