Need advice

[EchoMikeTango]

PT was on a 4 ft ladder. Fell reaching for a tool. landed on his butt. CC of lower back pain / tail bone pain. Hips intact. no pain upon palp. no deform. tender distal to lumbar. didnt LBB.

possible lawsuit due to wife being EDP. Thoughts .

 

[JPINFV]

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Now, in a hypothetical situation of a man falling on hit rump from a ladder, was there any neuro deficits to go along with no tenderness or deformity? Also, does your system endorse any specific selective spinal immobilization protocol?

 

[Medic Tim]

in my system if there is no pain they would not get a board but where there is "back pain" they would.

 

[EchoMikeTango]

well

No. Everything was fine. Minimal back pain. no neuro issues. aaox4. CSS passed. no other S/Sx other then the tail bone pain. It actually would have been MORE uncomfortable and more pain to put him on the back board.

 

[JPINFV]

I can't think of many situations where laying on a backboard isn't more uncomfortable than laying on a mattress. The problem with cases like this is that it's hard to get a good index of suspicion without being there, and even harder to justify acting on it without being around when and if a course of action needs to be justified. However, my index of suspicion is fairly low right now.

 

[epipusher]

What is an EDP? Also, what is the basis for the lawsuit? Did the pt end up having some sort of permanent deficit?

 

[JPINFV]

EDP: Emotionally disturbed person.

 

[usalsfyre]

They have to find a lawyer willing to take a case with minimal evidence of harm....

Something many disgruntled people seem to forget in the heat of the moment.