A GRANDAD claims surgeons were about to amputate his leg – without permission.
Roy Clamp was in for a bone graft operation at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but said he discovered at the last minute that medics were going to take his leg off.
NHS Lothian and Borders say the incident last week was “a misunderstanding” and say they would not amputate without his knowledge.
Speaking at his home in Ecclefechan, Mr Clamp, aged 50, told the Standard: “I had no idea what they were planning. As far as I was aware I was going for a five-hour bone graft operation from my hip to my femur and to have an alloy plate in my leg removed or replaced after almost a year of waiting.
“It was only when I asked the anaesthetist minutes before the operation for a run down on what they were doing that I learnt about the amputation plans. There had been no consultation about it with me.
“The operation was cancelled and I am left not knowing what is going to happen next. I have lodged an official complaint over my treatment so far.”
The father of six, a former self-employed woodcutter, shattered his right kneecap in 12 pieces after falling from a bridge on a fishing holiday in Oxfordshire a year ago yesterday.
He broke his femur which has a four-inch gap because of a water-borne infection which destroyed flesh and muscle.
He underwent eight operations at The Radcliffe Hospital in Oxfordshire as specialists saved his leg and won over the infection.
They took muscle from his calf to protect the femur and inserted an alloy plate through his leg and put in a “basket” containing antibiotics to fight any future infection.
“The specialists at the Radcliffe were fantastic. They rebuilt my knee and were confident that I was making a full recovery. I had just one operation left and that was for a bone graft and to have the alloy plate and basket removed,” he said.
“I was pretty homesick by then so they arranged for me to be transferred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for this last operation but not long after I got there I was sent home without the operation and told they would send for me within weeks.”
Mr Clamp claims that never happened and said he saw a succession of consultants at Dumfries Infirmary.
He said: “The first told me the reason why I had not had the operation in Glasgow was because I did not need the operation as the femur was okay and I should try standing and walking.
“I then got another appointment and the consultant told me that I’d been given misinformation and X-rays taken that day showed I still needed the operation. He told me not to stand on my leg or I’d damage the plate.”
Unluckily, Mr Clamp, who has spent 11 months on crutches, then suffered a fall which caused the metal plate and its screws to come loose.
He asked to go back to The Radcliffe Hospital but was sent to Edinburgh instead.
“I finally thought I’d get the operation I needed to get me back on my feet,” he said.
“The surgeon seems to think I have a bone infection but, although I stayed in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for two days after the operation was cancelled for a second opinion and biopsies, I was sent home without either.
“The surgeon has gone on holiday and I am just left here in pain, not knowing what is going to happen next. I have heard nothing since I got home.”
NHS Lothian has issued a statement saying: “There seems to have been a misunderstanding and we apologise for any concern.
“Mr Clamp was due to have a new metal plate fitted and have an infection checked.
“He was told amputation was one of several possible future options. This decision would not have been made without the patient’s consent.”
source: dgstandard.co.uk
Amputation Claims
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