Byrne Carolan Cunningham Solicitors - Child Spinal Surgery Concerns

Public Question

The HSE has indicated that it has commissioned a UK based expert to review spinal surgeries carried out by a consultant at Temple Street children’s hospital in Dublin after an internal review identified “serious spinal surgical incidents” in the service.

The HSE released a statement indication that the “primary focus of this external review will be the clinical care provided by an individual consultant based at CHI at Temple Street, who is currently not conducting surgeries, and in respect of whom a referral has been made to the Medical Council.”

The HSE published a report in recent days which revealed high complication rates following spinal surgeries performed by a consultant. The report looked at 16 children with spina bifida who underwent spinal surgery between October 1st, 2019 and October 31st, 2022. 80% of those children needed further surgery. 75% suffered wound infection and 56% needed to have metal implants removed. It was revealed that one child required 34 subsequent visits to the operating theatre. Three children experienced hypothermia.

This firm has been consulted on a number of such cases and has extensive experience in the area of medical negligence law. If you have concerns in relation to a loved one’s medical care, please feel free to contact our expert and experienced medical negligence solicitors for legal advice in the strictest confidence.