The defendant orthopedic surgeon performed a closed reduction and casting of the plaintiff’s Colles fracture. The plaintiff claimed that the defendant should have performed an open reduction after a loss of position of the fracture fragments, as a result of which he required several open procedures and was left with a malunion, radial shortening, and diminished use of the forearm. The defense was that the initial treatment was appropriate and the subsequent treatment by a Florida orthopedist was ill-advised and contributed to the poor outcome. Demand: $500,000. Amount asked of jury: $500,000.
Result : Defense verdict.
Defense Attorney : For the orthopedic surgeon: Sarah E. Sholes.