The family of a woman who died from tetanus following a minor injury received compensation after multiple medical professionals failed to diagnose the rare condition.
The elderly lady died six weeks after injuring herself while gardening, with two nurses missing crucial signs the woman was suffering from tetanus, including lock jaw. This oversight meant she didn’t receive the critical treatment of a tetanus immunoglobin which could have given immediate protection from the tetanus toxins, until it was too late.
Following her death, her son sought the help of specialist solicitor, Miriam Bi of Medical Solicitors, to make a medical negligence compensation claim.
Case summary
In September 2018, the woman was gardening at home when she accidentally dropped a heavy soil-covered pick-axe on her leg, causing a cut.
The next day, she visited a nurse to have the wound cleaned and dressed. The nurse described it as a small skin tear and gave her a tetanus vaccination because of the risk of infection. She was told to return in a few days for a check-up.
When she came back for the check up a few days later, another nurse redressed the wound. There was some bruising and a mild odour, but it was thought to be healing normally.
Within the coming days, the woman suddenly began struggling to swallow and noticed her mouth drooping on one side. She was taken to hospital by ambulance. Paramedics initially suspected a stroke, but tests ruled that out.
Her son mentioned that she might have tetanus, but this was dismissed as “rare.” She was diagnosed instead with an oesophageal spasm and sent home.
The next day, her condition got worse. She couldn’t open her mouth, was nauseous, and had neck stiffness and muscle spasms. Doctors began to suspect an infection such as encephalitis or a urinary tract infection. They eventually considered tetanus - a rare but life-threatening disease caused by bacteria entering the body through a wound.
Although she had been given a tetanus vaccination, she had not received tetanus immunoglobulin, which provides immediate protection for dirty wounds. This missed step left her vulnerable.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly. She developed severe muscle stiffness and spasms, needed emergency treatment in intensive care, and underwent surgery to clean the infected wound. Despite every effort, including ventilation, medication, and supportive care, her condition worsened.
Her heart stopped and she needed two rounds of CPR and adrenaline to restart her heart. After this, she became unresponsive, with no limb movements and worsening spasms.
A DNR was put in place and end of life care started, before she sadly passed away six weeks after the initial injury.
An inquest later found that the nurse’s failure to give tetanus immunoglobulin when she first treated the wound increased the woman’s risk of developing tetanus and ultimately contributed to her death. The official cause of death was generalised tetanus and acute on chronic myelopathy.
The family received an out-of-court settlement of £11,750 which included £5,000 for her pain and suffering and £6,750 in special damages for their financial losses.
