Substantial six figure sum for a delay in diagnosis of a young lady’s Cauda Equina syndrome

Our client attended A&E with difficulties passing urine, increasingly severe back and left leg pain, and a loss of sensation in her groin and left foot.

The defendant failed to correctly record her symptoms or carry out the appropriate examinations and investigations, including an urgent MRI scan. This meant her cauda equina syndrome wasn’t diagnosed when it should have been.

An earlier diagnosis would have led to earlier decompression surgery and a better neurological outcome.

Cauda equina syndrome occurs when the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine becomes damaged. It’s a medical emergency that needs prompt treatment to help prevent lasting damage.

The delay in diagnosis and treatment left our client with significant neurological damage. She now experiences loss of bowel and bladder function, alongside sexual dysfunction.

She also has numbness and weakness in her left leg and foot, as well as ongoing back and left leg pain.

Our client’s injuries have affected her mobility. She walks with a limp, has problems with her balance and can’t walk long distances.

The impact has also affected her mental health. She has experienced depression and was diagnosed with Chronic Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood.

Her injuries have made it difficult for her to continue working as a Digital Marketing Executive.

The defendant continued to deny liability, meaning they disputed legal responsibility for the harm our client suffered. However, they were keen to settle the claim before court proceedings were issued.

The claim involved significant challenges, as the defendant continued to dispute responsibility despite the impact of the delayed diagnosis on our client.

The team on the case worked to resolve the claim, reaching an out-of-court settlement in just over four years. This was shorter than the more than five years cauda equina claims typically take, as described in the original case study.

Our client received a substantial six-figure settlement following the delay in diagnosing and treating her cauda equina syndrome.

The settlement brought the claim to a close without the need to issue court proceedings. While her injuries have had a lasting impact on her daily life and ability to work, the successful claim helped her move forward.

Reflecting on the experience, our client said:

“From my very first meeting with Victoria Jones I was confident in her knowledge of Cauda Equina cases and the realistic perspective she provided regarding the merits of my claim. Victoria’s command of the detail of my case was exceptional and at every stage I felt comfortable with her advice, she showed compassion and understanding for the trauma caused by my injuries and the lasting effects upon my life.”

A delay in diagnosing cauda equina syndrome can have life-changing consequences. If you’ve experienced similar problems with your diagnosis or treatment, you may have questions about what happened and whether it could have been avoided.

Our specialist team can help you understand your options and explain the next steps.

Find out more about cauda equina compensation claims.

Contact us today to speak to our team.