QUESTION
Two months ago I had my wisdom teeth removed. My lip and chin are still numb from the surgery. Could this be malpractice?
Asked on Mar 08th, 2013 on Medical Malpractice - Pennsylvania
More details to this question:
My surgery that should have only been an hour took almost 4 hours. I was told at my first follow up appoitnment that it was a complicated surgery because I am 28 and just now having my wisdom teeth removed. The surgeon told me he really had to "get in there to get the roots out" and now 2 months later and I am still numb his story is changing by saying "I didnt have to dig but your roots were really down there so I wouldnt be surprised if they brushed a nerve on their way out". I have done some research and I have never heard of this happening to anyone else. My surgeon continues to make follow up appointments with me to see if I have made progress in the numbness and has now suggested maybe I should see a nerve specialist. He referred me to someone and that makes me nervous as well. Being his referral I don't know if the doctor would tell me the truth? THe numbess is uncomfortable and an inconvienence!
1 ANSWER
Catastrophic Injury Attorney serving Roseland, NJ
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John J. Ratkowitz
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It sounds like you suffered an injury to the trigeminal nerve. If you want to investigate a malpractice case, you should talk to a local lawyer, but in my experience trigeminal nerve injuries occurring in a setting of wisdom tooth extraction are accepted complications of the procedure. Definitely see a nerve doctor ASAP because there is a limited window of time to treat this problem.
If you want to investigate a malpractice case, you should contact a local medical malpractice attorney (one in your state). They take these cases on a contingency basis which means you only have to pay if you succeed. Additionally, initial consultations are usually free. You can use the "Find a Lawyer" service through this website to research medical malpractice attorneys. Then, visit each attorney's website and look for a firm that has a record of successful verdicts, ideally with experience in cases that involve your medical issue. If you are unable to find a lawyer who meets these qualifications within your state, sometimes you may contact an out of state lawyer who can refer you to a qualified attorney in your state while providing support related to the issues of medicine.
Below are some articles you may find helpful. They are written for a New Jersey audience (where I practice) but the ideas discussed in these articles usually apply in most other jurisdictions as well.
Click here for an article that discusses the three main questions I ask when deciding whether to investigate a potential medical malpractice case.
Click here for an article that explains what you can expect when filing a medical malpractice case.
Click here and here for more information about me.
Please note that by attempting to answer your question, I am not acting as your attorney. I will do nothing further to protect or preserve your interests in the absence of any additional discussion with you about this matter. John Ratkowitz, Esq. Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin, P.C. 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 Office: (973) 830-8441 Cell: (732) 616-6278 Fax: (973) 226-0031 Email: jratkowitz@starrgern.com Skype: john_ratkowitz Web: www.starrgern.com.
Answered on Mar 12th, 2013 at 10:55 AM