The patient claims she went in for spinal surgery when her doctor dropped a pedicle screw into her body and couldn't retrieve it immediately.
LAWRENCE - A patient who underwent spinal surgery two years ago claims her doctor dropped a medical tool into her body and couldn't retrieve it until two days later, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
The patient, Florence Latham, says she went to a Capital Health practice in Lawrence for a spinal fusion surgery in June, 2014 with Dr. Ariel Abud.
During the surgery, Abud dropped a pedicle screw into Latham's body but was unable to get it out at the time, according to her attorney, Ezra Wohlgelernter.
She suffered an injury to her femoral nerve as a result, Wohlgelernter said.
"Latham experienced pain and weakness in her right lower extremity and was unable to lift her right leg or bend her right knee," the suit said.
Latham had to wait two days until Abud could perform another surgery with a larger incision to get the screw out.
Following the second surgery, Latham, "suffered subsequent abdominal hernias which required surgical repair, and is at risk for the development of hernias and complications in the future," the suit said.
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Latham claims Abud was negligent not only in dropping the screw during surgery but also in, "failing to use appropriate tools and/or surgical techniques to place and remove a pedicle screw," the suit said.
The National Library of Medicine describes a pedicle screw as an instrument used to add support to a spinal fusion as it heals.
Latham filed the suit in the Superior Court of Mercer County last month against Abud and the Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
A representative for the center did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Abud was not available to respond for comment Thursday afternoon.
Abud served as president of the Mercer County Medical Society 2012 but has since been replaced, according to the society's website.