ArticleJournal of hand and microsurgery2016
Litigation and Malpractice in Carpal Tunnel Surgery: An Analysis of 60 Successful Claims Over a 10-Year Period (2002-2012).
Article in Journal of hand and microsurgery, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Iatrogenic Nerve Injuries Affecting Upper Limb Function: Medicolegal Implications.Journal of hand surgery global online · 2026Article
- Litigation in Cubital Tunnel Surgery.Hand (New York, N.Y.) · 2026Article
- A Comparative Risk Analysis of Malpractice Claims in Hand Surgeons Trained in Plastic and Orthopedic Surgery.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Malpractice Litigation in Hand Surgery: A Comprehensive Nationwide Analysis.Hand (New York, N.Y.) · 2022Article
- Litigation Following Carpal Tunnel Release.Hand (New York, N.Y.) · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
introductionCarpal tunnel surgery represents a significant source of litigation in hand surgery. The aim of this work was to evaluate the burden of successful litigation relating to this type of hand surgery in England. Secondary measures looked at identifying the most common causes of successful legal action. MATERIAL AND
methodsA retrospective review was conducted on the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) database. All successful carpal tunnel surgery-related claims over a 10-year period from 2002 to 2012 were identified. A total of 60 claims were retrieved and analyzed.
resultsThe total cost of successful claims to the NHS was £3.9 million. This compromised £2.4 million in damages, with £1.5 million in legal costs (22% in NHS legal costs, the remainder the claimants costs). The mean cost of settling a claim was £65,440 (range £350-£397,134). The commonest cause of the claim was nerve damage. The average damages paid in relation to this injury was £55,460. Additional surgery and poor outcome were the next commonest cause of successful proceedings, with average damages of £28,984.
conclusionLegal action in relation to carpal tunnel surgery is a considerable source of cost to hand surgeons and the NHS. The complexity of resolving these cases is reflected in the associated legal costs, which represent a significant proportion of payouts. With improved understanding of factors instigating successful legal proceedings physicians can recognize areas, where practice and training can be improved, and steps can be taken to minimize injury.
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