Surgical tools are designed to withstand the rigors of complex procedures. But sometimes, needles, instrument tips, or fragments can break off and remain inside a patient without the surgical team realizing it. These retained foreign objects can lead to serious medical complications, often requiring additional surgeries, long-term pain management, or worse.
What Causes Instrument Tips or Needles to Be Left Behind?
Instrument failure during surgery is rare, but when it happens, the consequences can be severe. Common causes include:
- Wear and tear on tools
- Improper use of instruments
- Manufacturing defects
- High-pressure or emergency surgical environments
- Lack of proper inspection before and after use
Whether it’s a broken needle, a tip of a scalpel, or a piece of a clamp, any retained object left inside the body is considered a preventable medical error.
Risks of Retained Instrument Fragments
The presence of metal or other surgical material inside the body can lead to:
- Localized pain and inflammation
- Infection or abscess formation
- Nerve or tissue damage
- Impaired organ function
- Need for additional invasive procedures
- Long-term medical complications
Patients are often unaware of the issue until post-operative pain persists or a routine scan reveals the foreign object.
This Should Not Happen
Surgical teams are trained to meticulously inspect tools and count all materials used during a procedure. When fragments are left behind, it often means these safety protocols were ignored or not properly followed.
Hospitals and surgical providers have a duty to uphold a clear standard of care. Failing to identify and remove broken equipment during surgery may constitute medical negligence.
How Baron, Herskowitz, and Cohen Can Help
If you or a loved one is experiencing unexplained pain, infection, or complications after surgery, you may be the victim of a retained surgical object. At Baron, Herskowitz, and Cohen, we have extensive experience investigating these types of cases, holding negligent providers accountable, and helping patients recover the compensation they deserve.
Contact us today for a FREE confidential consultation. We are here to help you seek answers, justice, and peace of mind.
