$4.5 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Treat Leg Fracture and Infection, Resulting in Amputation

Dwayne Kenney suffered a fractured left leg in a motorcycle crash. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery, which was performed by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Cyrus Kump II. Kenney suffered complications and, suspecting an infection, Dr. Kump removed the plates and screws from his leg approximately three months later. During that procedure, Dr. Kump was unable to close the skin over Kenney’s exposed tibia. Nevertheless, Dr. Kump ordered only dressing changes for the next four weeks, leaving the wound open to the air.

Six months later, a plastic surgeon attempted to cover Kenney’s exposed bone. Kenney contracted MRSA, osteomyelitis, and the procedure failed in less than two weeks. Several months after that, Kenney’s left leg required amputation. Although it was not reported, it may be assumed that the amputation was below the knee.

Kenney sued Dr. Kump and his practice alleging that Kump chose not to place an external fixator to stabilize the fractured tibia during the second surgery and decided not to timely consult a plastic surgeon to address an exposed tibia within five days of the procedure. The exposure of the bone to air led to the infection, which included osteomyelitis.

The jury signed a verdict in favor of Kenney in the amount of $4.5 million.

At trial, the Kenney attorneys presented experts in orthopedic surgery and life care planning.
The defendants presented experts in orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, infectious disease and radiology.

The attorneys successfully representing Kenney in this case were Travis W. Markley and Richard L. Nagle.

Kenney v. Kump, No. CL 18002649 (Va. Cir. Ct. Richmond County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling orthopedic negligence lawsuits, medical malpractice leading to amputation cases, compartment syndrome negligence lawsuits, infectious disease negligence cases and medical malpractice lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Glencoe, Northfield, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Palatine, Inverness, Hoffman Estates, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles, Lincolnwood, Bensenville, Brookfield, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, York Center, Villa Park, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Joliet, Waukegan, St. Charles, Elburn, Chicago (Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Albany Park, Irving Park, Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Wrigleyville), Summit, LaGrange, Hillside, Midlothian, Markham, Tinley Park, Chicago Heights, Richton Park, Park forest, South Chicago Heights, University Park, Crete, Steger, Batavia, Beecher, Harvey, Chicago Ridge, Burr Ridge, and Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Kreisman Law Offices handled a very similar lawsuit resulting in a Cook County jury verdict of $2.86 million. The client in that case also suffered from the unresolved infection to this leg resulting in amputation. In this case, we also presented experts in orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, infections disease, radiology, economics and life care planning.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.