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Seattle Tissue Necrosis Lawyers
Representing injury victims and families for more than 20 years
Tissue necrosis is a catastrophic injury. It’s often fatal if not treated promptly. Survivors may lose a limb or the ability to use part of their body. At Smith McBroom, we represent the victims of accidents who suffer wounds that lead to tissue necrosis. Our catastrophic injuries also represent victims when doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers fail to provide quality care to prevent, diagnose, or treat tissue necrosis. We understand the unique challenges in proving liability. Our Seattle tissue necrosis lawyers demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages. We also represent families when tissue necrosis is tragically fatal. Call us today to obtain the compensation you deserve.
How can we help?
- What is tissue necrosis?
- What are the causes of necrosis in Seattle?
- What are the different patterns and types of necrosis?
- What are the signs and symptoms?
- How do doctors diagnose tissue necrosis?
- What are the treatments for tissue necrosis in Seattle?
- Who can be held accountable for tissue necrosis in Seattle?
- What is the value of a tissue necrosis claim in Washington state?
- Do you have a Seattle tissue necrosis lawyer near me?
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What is tissue necrosis?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, necrosis is “the death of the cells in your body tissues.” When these cells die, your bones, skin, organs, and other parts of you can suffer. While doctors can remove dead body tissue, they cannot restore the tissue.
Johns Hopkins Medicine states that necrosis is an infection caused by bacteria that invade the skin or the tissues under the skin. Unless there is prompt treatment (within hours), an accident victim with necrosis could die.
What are the causes of necrosis in Seattle?
The Cleveland Clinic states that common causes of necrosis include injury, illness, disease, and a lack of blood flow to your tissues. Dermal filler injections may cause necrosis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine states that the most common cause of a necrotizing infection is a bacteria called Streptococcus (the same bacteria that causes strep throat). Anyone who has an open wound (such as from a car accident, dog bite, sexual assault, or medical malpractice) or even a small cut “especially if it has been in contact with dirt or bacteria in the mouth” is at risk for a necrotizing infection.
Other types of bacteria that can cause a necrotizing infection include:
- Enterococci
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Clostridium perfringens and other anaerobic bacteria
- Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli)
What are the different patterns and types of necrosis?
The Cleveland Clinic identifies the following patterns of necrosis:
- Coagulative necrosis. Here, the “dead cells remain firm and look normal for days after death. Lack of blood flow or oxygen to any part of your body except your brain can cause coagulative necrosis.”
- Liquefactive necrosis. Here, “the dead cells partially or completely dissolve within hours of death. Then they transform into a thick, sticky liquid.” Common causes include infection and a lack of oxygen to the brain, which may occur during the delivery of a child.
- Fat necrosis. This type of necrosis involves cells that release enzymes causing the cells to turn to liquid. “The liquid cells combine with calcium, creating chalky, white deposits on the cells. Acute pancreatitis is the most common cause of fat necrosis.”
- Caseous necrosis. Here, “the dead cells look white and soft. They’ve been described as looking like cheese — the word caseous means “cheese-like.” “Caseous necrosis is uniquely seen in the infectious lung disease tuberculosis.”
- Fibrinoid necrosis. This disorder occurs when an autoimmune disease or infection damages a victim’s blood vessels.
- Gangrenous necrosis. This type of necrosis causes the skin to rot and appear black. A common cause is a lack of blood flow to the legs, arms, and fingers, which may occur in very cold weather, which is common in Seattle in the winter.
The different types of necrosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:
- Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis). This type of necrosis “occurs when blood flow to your bone tissue is blocked.” Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a type of avascular necrosis.
- Pancreatic necrosis. This type of necrosis is due to acute pancreatitis. This infection can spread into the blood causing sepsis organ failure.
- Other types of necrosis include:
- Fat necrosis of the breast
- Acute tubular necrosis – a kidney disorder
- Radiation necrosis – due to high-dose radiation of the brain, neck, or head.
- Renal papillary necrosis – another kidney disorder
- Spider bite necrosis
- Pulp necrosis – “when the soft flesh (pulp) inside your tooth dies.”
What are the signs and symptoms?
Johns Hopkins Medicine identifies numerous symptoms of a necrotizing soft tissue infection:
- Pain that is larger than it should be for the size of a wound or sore.
- Pain beyond the edge of the wound or visible infection
- Pain, swelling, redness, or warmth at a wound - “especially if the redness is spreading rapidly and if areas are turning bluish or black”
- Skin blisters
- “A wound with a fever (higher than 100.4°F or 38°C) and a rapid heartbeat. This is usually more than 100 beats a minute”
- A pus-filled bump or small sore that is unusually painful
- “Pain from a skin wound that also has signs of a more severe infection, such as chills and fever”
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Excessive sweating
Another symptom is a sore that is worsening quickly, especially if you have diabetes, are obese, are on chemotherapy for cancer, are on dialysis, have peripheral artery disease, or have other specific conditions.
If you have any symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
How do doctors diagnose tissue necrosis?
Our Seattle tissue necrosis lawyers review whether your healthcare providers performed the following diagnostic tests that Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends:
- An oral exam that includes asking about your travel history and whether you had a recent dog bite or insect bite. Your doctor should also ask whether you’ve had a recent injury that may have become contaminated – and many other questions.
- A review of whether you’ve had surgery recently.
- Blood tests, including a complete blood cell count.
- X-rays to find air in soft tissues.
- An MRI or CT scan.
- A tissue culture to determine the type of bacteria present.
- A debridement of the area of concern to inspect the tissue.
- A biopsy.
What are the treatments for tissue necrosis in Seattle?
At Smith McBroom, we can review what treatments you received and may still need. Tissue necrosis can be life-threatening and can cause organ damage, which means prompt treatment is necessary. Common treatments for tissue necrosis are aggressive, and according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, they include the following:
- Removal of the infected tissue. This procedure (called a surgical debridement) is done to prevent the infection from spreading. An amputation of the limb that has the infection may be necessary.
- Antibiotics. These medicines help to “fight the infection at its source and help to reduce effects of the infection on the rest of the body.”
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This therapy involves a “pressurized chamber that raises the amount of oxygen available for you to breathe and for your red blood cells to take in,” to help your wound heal.
- A tetanus vaccine. You may need a tetanus shot to protect against more infections.
Who can be held accountable for tissue necrosis in Seattle?
At Smith McBroom, we file personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for any wounds that become infected including the people that caused the wounds and the people that failed to properly treat the wounds.
Our Seattle tissue necrosis lawyers file claims against:
- Drivers
- Product manufacturers
- Dog owners
- Property owners
- Birth delivery doctors
- ER doctors
- Surgeons
- Hospitals
- All other responsible parties
Healthcare providers may be liable for failing to identify, diagnose, and treat tissue necrosis. They may also be liable for failing to properly care for wounds and surgical sites, advise patients of the risk factors, and other types of medical malpractice.
What is the value of a tissue necrosis claim in Washington state?
At Smith McBroom, we work with your doctors and our independent network of doctors, if necessary, to identify the cause of the infection, review the competency of the medical care, discuss the full extent of your pain and suffering, and review your quality of life and medical needs. We work with life planners if you have an amputation or loss of bodily function.
Our Seattle catastrophic injury lawyers demand compensation for all your current and future damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of bodily function
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- All other damages that may apply such as property damage and loss of consortium
We file wrongful death claims if a parent, spouse, or child dies due to preventable tissue necrosis.
Do you have a Seattle tissue necrosis lawyer near me?
Smith McBroom’s office is located at 16400 Southcenter Parkway, Suite #210, Seattle, Washington, 98188. We’re right off of I-5 and I-405, near Southcenter Mall. You can reach us by bus or park your car at our office.
We’re prepared to explain your rights and guide you through each step of the claims process.
Contact our seasoned legal team today
We understand how frightening it is to live with a catastrophic injury such as tissue necrosis, and we know how devastating it is when a loved one dies due to improper medical care. At Smith McBroom, we’ve earned the respect of former clients, insurance companies, and the legal community for our impressive record of results on behalf of personal injury victims across Washington state. Call our Seattle tissue necrosis lawyers today or complete our contact form today to schedule a free consultation. We handle catastrophic personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.