Young Woman’s Medical Condition Worsens After Accident

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Case Result

A teenage girl had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and aqueductal stenosis as an infant. The condition occurs due to the thinning of an aqueduct in the brain that normally helps drain and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), resulting in a buildup of CSF.

She underwent shunt placement surgery to drain off excess fluid from the brain to prevent elevated CSF pressure and the resulting hydrocephalus. A few months before her accident, her neurosurgeon performed an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and removed the proximal shunt catheter and valve. This procedure allowed the CSF to drain through a hole created surgically at the base of the third ventricle. For the first time in her life, our client had normal CSF flow and drainage. Her life changed dramatically due to the surgery, as her headaches disappeared and she became much more active—both physically and socially—and appeared to be on her way to finally living a normal life.

Unfortunately, she suffered a serious resurgence of symptoms after an automobile accident in which the defendant driver ran a red light and collided with the vehicle in which she was a passenger. The resulting concussion and brain injury caused bleeding and scarring over of the surgical site of her recent third ventriculostomy. She continues to have daily headaches which vary in intensity. These headaches affect her ability to function in daily activities, including classes and school work.

WKW employed the use of several medical computer graphic animations to demonstrate the details of this complex medical condition as well as the surgical procedures which were used to provide relief. It was felt that this level of presentation was crucial in order to demonstrate to a jury how much suffering it had caused our client and how much it had affected her ability to live a normal life. WKW was successful in reaching a settlement for our client at mediation, thus avoiding trial.