Abstract
IntroductionThis series reviews three cases of back pain where a highly morbid diagnosis was missed by an emergency physician and subsequently successfully litigated.Case ReportWe review the clinical entities of spinal epidural abscess and cauda equina syndrome, challenging diagnoses that can be easily missed and lead to patient harm if not treated promptly. Here we offer suggestions for recognizing these conditions quickly, performing an adequate history and exam, and using documentation to support decision-making.ConclusionWhen confronted with an unfortunate medical outcome, maintaining honesty is of paramount importance in medical-legal environments.
Highlights
This series reviews three cases of back pain where a highly morbid diagnosis was missed by an emergency physician and subsequently successfully litigated.Case Report: We review the clinical entities of spinal epidural abscess and cauda equina syndrome, challenging diagnoses that can be missed and lead to patient harm if not treated promptly
When confronted with an unfortunate medical outcome, maintaining honesty is of paramount importance in medical-legal environments.[Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2022;6(1):8-12.]
We have discussed several presentations of back pain and identified the factors that led to a failure to diagnose
Summary
This series reviews three cases of back pain where a highly morbid diagnosis was missed by an emergency physician and subsequently successfully litigated. We offer suggestions for recognizing these conditions quickly, performing an adequate history and exam, and using documentation to support decision-making
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