Daniel E. Holloway
Email me about your case
Georgia case library

Northside Orthopedic Institute complaint alleges quadriceps-tendon surgery delay before permanent leg weakness

The complaint alleges that a patient was diagnosed with a ruptured left quadriceps tendon at Northside Orthopedic Institute in August 2023. Orthopedic physicians did not complete a stat MRI or schedule surgical repair within the accepted 21-day window. He developed a fever and knee warmth, then a blood clot and pulmonary embolism requiring hospitalization, while surgery remained delayed. The tendon repair was not performed until November 10, 2023, 93 days after the injury. The complaint alleges the delay caused tendon retraction and scarring that led to a poor surgical result. He was left with weakness, decreased range of motion, and pain in his leg.

System
Northside Hospital, Inc.
Facility
Northside Orthopedic Institute
Providers involved
Northside Hospital, Inc. / Northside Hospital, Inc. d/b/a Northside Orthopedic Institute and Northside Orthopedics / Torrance Laury, M.D. / Stephen R. Fisher, M.D.
Pattern
Alleged 93-day delay in surgically repairing a diagnosed ruptured quadriceps tendon
Harm
Alleged permanent leg weakness, limited mobility, and pain

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that orthopedic providers delayed surgical repair of a diagnosed ruptured quadriceps tendon well beyond the accepted treatment window.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The patient, a 46-year-old man, injured his left knee at work on August 9, 2023. A non-defendant emergency room diagnosed a patellar dislocation and sent him home with a knee immobilizer.
  2. On August 17, 2023 an orthopedic physician diagnosed a ruptured left quadriceps tendon and ordered a stat MRI and referral for surgical management.
  3. At a September 5, 2023 visit the stat MRI still had not been completed, reportedly over an insurance issue, and no surgery had been scheduled.
  4. The patient reported fever and knee warmth at that visit.
  5. A second orthopedic physician saw him on September 25, 2023. While immobilized awaiting the MRI, he had developed a blood clot and pulmonary embolism.
  6. The tendon repair was performed on November 10, 2023, 93 days after the original injury, and the surgeon noted extensive chronic scar tissue.
  7. The complaint alleges the delay allowed tendon retraction and scarring to develop, leaving him with a poor surgical result, weakness, and pain.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • The complaint alleges the standard of care required repair within 21 days of the injury. It also alleges the diagnosing physician did not obtain an immediate surgical consult.
  • The complaint alleges that delaying an urgent, time-sensitive surgical procedure over an insurance-coverage issue fell below the standard of care.
  • The second physician likewise did not act with the urgency required after the September 25, 2023 visit, further delaying surgery into November.
  • The hospital and practice defendants lacked adequate policies and staff training to ensure timely surgical repair of tendon injuries.
  • The complaint pleads medical negligence, ordinary negligence, and loss of consortium, and attaches an expert affidavit under O.C.G.A. ยง 9-11-9.1.

Entities and tags

Northside Hospital, Inc.Northside Orthopedic InstituteNorthside OrthopedicsTorrance Laury, M.D.Stephen R. Fisher, M.D.Ruptured quadriceps tendonDeep vein thrombosisPulmonary embolismQuadriceps tendon repairForsyth CountyDelayed treatmentOrthopedic surgeryEmergency medicine