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ABSTRACT: Study design
Retrospective cross-sectional study.Objective
To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of spine-related malpractice claims in China in a 2-year period.Methods
The arbitration files of the Chinese Medical Association (CMA) were reviewed for spine-related malpractice claims. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted on claim characteristics, clinical data, plaintiff's main allegations, and arbitration outcomes.Results
A total of 288 cases of spinal claims filed in the CMA between January 2016 and December 2017 were included. Most claims were found in lumbar degenerative disorders (59.4%), lumbar trauma (13.2%), and cervical degenerative disorders (11.8%). The most common adverse events (AEs) leading to claims were new neurologic deficit (NND) (47.6%), infection (11.5%), and insufficient symptom relief (10.4%). The most common patient allegation was surgical error (66.0%), although the main arbitrated cause of AEs was disease/treatment itself (49.0%), while providers were judged as mainly responsible in only 47.3% cases. In multivariate regression analysis, cervical spine, misdiagnosis/mistreatment, and unpredictable emergency correlated with more severe damage to patients; minimally invasive surgery was predictive of judgment in plaintiff's favor, while claims in the eastern region and unpredictable emergencies were predictive of defendant's favor; only NND was associated with being arbitrated as surgical error in surgical cases where surgeons accepted major liability.Conclusion
The current study provided a descriptive overview and risk factor analysis of spine-related malpractice claims in China. Gaining improved understanding of the facts and causes of malpractice claims may help providers reduce the risk of claims and subsequent litigation.
SUBMITTER: Yue L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10448087 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Yue Lei L Sun Ming-Shuai MS Mu Guan-Zhang GZ Shang Mei-Xia MX Zhang Ying-Ze YZ Sun Hao-Lin HL Li Chun-De CD
Global spine journal 20210914 6
<h4>Study design</h4>Retrospective cross-sectional study.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of spine-related malpractice claims in China in a 2-year period.<h4>Methods</h4>The arbitration files of the Chinese Medical Association (CMA) were reviewed for spine-related malpractice claims. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted on claim characteristics, clinical data, plaintiff's main allegations, and arbitration outcomes.<h4>Re ...[more]