Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34043072›Full record

ArticleArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2022

Litigations in orthopedics and trauma surgery: reasons, dynamics, and profiles.

Martin Gathen, M Jaenisch, F Fuchs, L Weinhold, M Schmid, S Koob, D C Wirtz, M D Wimmer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Forensic analysis of medical malpractice claims in major joint dislocations: retrospective analysis of 64 cases.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Investigation of litigation in trauma orthopaedic surgery.World journal of clinical cases · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Martin GathenDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany. Martin.gathen@ukbonn.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9368-2033
M JaenischDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
F FuchsDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
L WeinholdInstitute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
M SchmidInstitute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
S KoobDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
D C WirtzDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
M D WimmerDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn recent literature, the increasing number of medical litigations, both in terms of the number of cases being filed and the substantive costs associated with lawsuits, has been described. This study aims to provide an overview of the profile of litigation for orthopedic and trauma surgery to describe the differences and the development of the number of cases over time. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of all litigations between 2000 and 2017 was conducted using the institutional legal database. The causes of litigation were documented and classified into seven major categories. In addition to plaintiff characteristics, the litigation outcomes and the differences between emergency and elective surgery were analyzed.

resultsA total of 230 cases were evaluated. The mean age of the plaintiffs was 44.6 ± 20.1 years, and 56.8% were female. The main reasons for litigation were claimed inappropriate management (46.1%), misdiagnosis (22.6), and poor nursing care (8.3%). Significantly more litigations were filed against surgeons of the orthopedic subspecialty compared with trauma surgeons (78%; p ≤ 0.0001). There were significantly fewer litigations per 1000 cases filed overall in 2009-2017 (65% less; p = 0.003) than in 2000-2008.

conclusionOur results could not confirm the often-stated trend of having more litigations against orthopedic and trauma surgeons. Although the absolute numbers increased, the number of litigations per 1000 patients treated declined. Patients who underwent elective surgery were more likely to file complaints than emergency patients.

Indexed as

MalpracticeOrthopedic ProceduresOrthopedicsSurgeonsAdultDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultLawsuitLitigationMedical malpracticeOrthopedic surgeryTreatment errors

Identifiers

PMID34043072
PMCPMC9596517

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.