Red Sox relief pitcher Bobby Jenks underwent emergency surgery in Phoenix following an alleged botched spinal decompression surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to a Boston Globe report.
Mr. Jenks underwent the procedure to remove two bone spurs in his spine on Dec. 12. Kirkham Wood, MD, chief of orthopedic spine service, allegedly removed the two bone spurs and began removing a third one without completing it. The alleged error reported caused spinal fluid leakage and infection, according to the report.
At the advice of the Red Sox, Mr. Jenks underwent emergency surgery two weeks later in Phoenix. MGH released a statement expressing sympathy for Mr. Jenks' complications but stopped short of admitting wrongdoing. It is possible the complications are a result of "a change in the overall position of the bone subsequent to the surgery," Mitchel B. Harris, MD, chief of orthopedic trauma at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said in the report.
The Red Sox plan to investigate what happened. It was not made immediately clear whether Mr. Jenks or the team will file a lawsuit against MGH.
Mr. Jenks underwent the procedure to remove two bone spurs in his spine on Dec. 12. Kirkham Wood, MD, chief of orthopedic spine service, allegedly removed the two bone spurs and began removing a third one without completing it. The alleged error reported caused spinal fluid leakage and infection, according to the report.
At the advice of the Red Sox, Mr. Jenks underwent emergency surgery two weeks later in Phoenix. MGH released a statement expressing sympathy for Mr. Jenks' complications but stopped short of admitting wrongdoing. It is possible the complications are a result of "a change in the overall position of the bone subsequent to the surgery," Mitchel B. Harris, MD, chief of orthopedic trauma at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said in the report.
The Red Sox plan to investigate what happened. It was not made immediately clear whether Mr. Jenks or the team will file a lawsuit against MGH.
More Articles on Safe Surgery:
Study: NQF Safe Practices Decreases Risk of Mortality
NYU Langone Medical Center Publishes Quality Report on Orthopedics
Study Reveals Risk Factors for SSI Following Coronary Artery Bypass