Sandra Beimfohr filed a medical malpractice suit against orthopedic surgeon Gregory Simmons, M.D. claiming he removed a pin in her left wrist before he should have.
According to the suit filed July 6 in St. Clair County, Simmons performed an open reduction, internal fixation and percutaneous pin fixation surgical procedure on June 3, 2004, on Beimfohr's left distal radius fracture.
Beimfohr claims Simmons removed the pin in her wrist during an office visit on July 7, 2004.
She claims she went back to see Simmons on Sept. 3, 2004, with a left distal radius fracture and complaints of pain from the dorsal plate. She claims she was forced to undergo a second operation to remove the plate on Sept. 7, 2004.
Beimfohr alleges Simmons negligently removed the pin when removal was contraindicated, failed to recognize that the fracture had not healed adequately to allow for the safe removal of the pin, failed to recognize her ulnar bone was becoming shorter because the site lacked any stabilization and failed to provide any medical treatment to provide stabilization.
Beimfohr claims as a result she has had to undergo additional surgeries, including two bone grafts, the placement of a temporary place on the underside of her wrist, the placement of a permanent plate on the underside of her wrist and shortening of the left ulnar bone.
She claims she has lost substantial use of her left fingers, lost wages, became liable for medical expenses, suffered pain, all of which affect her ability to enjoy a normal life.
Her husband, James Beimfohr, also is seeking damages claiming his wife's wrist problems have caused him to suffer the loss of his wife's companionship, love, society and affection.
The Beimfohr's are seeking damages in excess of $100,000.
They are represented by Judy Cates of the Cates Law Firm in Swansea.
06 L 411 (20th Circuit)