BATON ROUGE – A Baton Rouge lawyer has filed a malpractice suit against a Baton Rouge hospital and two doctors.
Yundra "Andre" Hooper filed suit against Louisiana State University-Earl K. Long Medical Center, Dr. Blane Sessions and Dr. Judson Penton in the 19th Judicial Court on Nov. 15.
The plaintiff claims that she was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis degenerative changes of the left knee on Aug. 12, 2008 at Earl K. Long Medical Center. Total left knee arthoplasty was recommended and scheduled.
On Sept. 18, 2008, Session and Penton performed the recommended surgery and installed a knee replacement implant, the suit claims. The plaintiff asserts the doctors did not utilize templates or measuring devices during the surgery.
On Oct. 2, 2008 and Oct. 30, 2008, post-surgical x-rays of the knee replacement failed to detect any abnormalities from the surgery.
After two months of physical therapy, the staff physicians at Earl K. Long Medical Center diagnosed Hooper with failed left knee arthoplasty, the suit claims. Another x-ray revealed the initially installed tibial baseplate was undersized and the femoral component was undersized and misaligned.
As a result, the plaintiff was required to undergo a second knee replacement and physical therapy.
The defendants are accused of failing to properly supervise and train its employees, namely the defendants, failing to properly size and align components installed during the first knee surgery and failing to interpret post-surgical x-rays.
Hooper claims that, because of the defendants' negligence, she suffers from abnormal leg length.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, unnecessary surgery, medical expenses, mental pain and suffering, disfigurement and loss of income.
The plaintiff is representing herself.
The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Todd Hernandez.
Case no. 617027.