The anatomy of orthopaedic malpractice. A study of two hundred and fifty cases.

Nine per cent of all of the Aetna Life and Casualty Company's closed malpractice cases during an eleven and a half-year period were orthopaedic. Two hundred and eleven orthopaedists (164 Board-certified), twelve general surgeons (eight Board-certified), and nineteen general practitioner-general surgeons were involved. Allegations of improper treatment (seventy cases), poor results (severty-four cases), postoperative infection including seven cases of gas gangrene (thirty-one cases), diagnostic error (twenty-six cases), back-surgery complications (twenty-six cases), miscellaneous complications (sixteen cases), and cardiac arrest (seven cases) were the grounds for these malpractice cases. When there was evidence of careful clinical appraisal, good clinical judgment, impeccable surgical technique, good doctor-patient rapport, and well documented records, the defense was successful.