A woman whose thumb injury was misdiagnosed, leading to her undergoing an unnecessary operation, has obtained compensation.
She injured her thumb when she tripped on decking. She went to A&E the next day and was told that she might have broken her thumb, but a few days later she was told it was not broken. She experienced worsening pain and was eventually given a diagnosis of ruptured ligaments. She underwent an operation under anaesthesia, but when she woke up she was told that the procedure had been halted after it was discovered that her ligaments did not require treatment.
She continues to experience significant pain, swelling and bruising to her thumb, and has issues with moving her arm. She was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, a long-lasting condition which can be caused by surgery.
She brought a claim against the NHS trust responsible for her care. The NHS trust initially denied full liability but later conceded that the operation she had undergone had not been necessary, and agreed to pay her compensation of £32,000.