Most people go into surgery expecting to come out better than they went in. But for some patients, the outcome is far worse—especially when the operation results in unexpected nerve damage.
Surgical nerve injuries can leave patients with permanent pain, weakness, numbness, or even paralysis. These injuries often occur because a surgeon or surgical team failed to take the necessary care to protect vital nerves during the procedure.
At Hendrickson Law, we’ve represented patients whose lives were permanently altered by nerve damage that was preventable.
A surgical nerve injury happens when a nerve is cut, stretched, compressed, or otherwise damaged during an operation. Some injuries heal with time, but others result in lifelong impairment.
The impact can be physical, emotional, and financial:
Chronic pain or burning sensations
Weakness or loss of muscle control
Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or breathing
Permanent disability or inability to work
While nerve injury can happen in nearly any surgical setting, certain procedures carry higher risks:
A vascular surgery near the neck that can damage the hypoglossal nerve, leading to tongue weakness, speech difficulty, and swallowing problems.
Hip, knee, or shoulder procedures can injure nerves like the sciatic, femoral, or axillary nerve, resulting in loss of mobility or sensation.
Damage to spinal nerves or the spinal cord can cause paralysis, numbness, or loss of bladder and bowel control.
Thyroid surgery, lymph node biopsies, or tumor removals can damage the recurrent laryngeal nerve, affecting voice and breathing.
Hysterectomies or hernia repairs can harm pelvic nerves, causing chronic pain and functional loss.
Many, but not all, surgical nerve injuries are preventable when the surgical team follows accepted standards of care. Common causes include:
Failure to identify and protect the nerve before cutting or dissecting in the area
Poor surgical technique or use of excessive force
Improper patient positioning during surgery
Use of faulty or inappropriate instruments
Rushed surgery without adequate visualization or caution
In some cases, the surgeon may not even realize the nerve was damaged until after the patient wakes up—something that should not happen in a properly performed operation.
Not every nerve injury is malpractice—some are unavoidable risks even in the best of hands. But it may be negligence if:
The surgical plan failed to account for known nerve locations and risks
No attempt was made to identify and protect the nerve
The injury resulted from careless cutting, stretching, or clamping
The patient wasn’t informed of the risk or given proper post-op follow-up
If you’ve experienced unexpected weakness, numbness, pain, or loss of function after surgery:
Get a prompt medical evaluation from a provider not involved in the original surgery
Request all operative notes and post-op records
Document your symptoms and their impact on your daily life
Contact an experienced malpractice attorney to review your case
At Hendrickson Law, we work with surgical and neurological experts to determine whether your injury could—and should—have been avoided.
Surgical nerve injuries are not “minor complications” when they change the way a person talks, moves, works, or lives. Pursuing a malpractice claim is about more than compensation—it’s about accountability, transparency, and preventing similar harm to others.
Call Hendrickson Law at (314) 721-8833 or visit www.hendricksonlaw.com for a free, confidential consultation.
Your life changed in an instant. Let us fight to make sure someone is held accountable.
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