Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306593336 - Durham Regional Hospital

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Investigation Summary

On October 14, 2002, Employee #1 was backing up when her left heel caught on an uneven mat causing her to fall straight back hitting her left thumb and back. Due to continued complaints of pain, the employee was later treated by an orthopedic doctor. Her treatment consisted of numerous physical therapy appointments and pain medications. The employee was removed from work on January 6, 2003 and placed in pool therapy. On March 9, 2003, she was admitted to Durham Regional Hospital with complaints of lower extremity weakness, numbness and paralysis. A MRI revealed the fractures were causing spinal cord compression accompanied by spinal stenosis. The employee was taken to the Operating Room where a T2-T6 laminectomy was performed with excision of a spinal hematoma. She remained in the hospital following surgery and continued to complain of paralysis and pain. A second surgery was performed on March 20, 2003 in which the T2-T6 was fused. During this surgery, the employee experienced a large amount of blood loss which required numerous replacements of blood and red blood cells. Following the second surgery, the employee became ventilator dependent and developed bacterial infections which lead to pneumonia. As a result of blood loss, the employee developed a condition known as amyloidosis which was the eventual cause of death. Because of this condition, she experienced GI bleeds, distended abdomen, and organ failure. She was removed from all life support on April 12, 2003, and died.

Keywords: SPINE, FALL