Woman claims eight-inch piece of bone left in her body after surgery

A Madison County woman had to endure multiple surgeries after doctors left an eight-inch detached bone fragment in her back, according to a recently filed lawsuit.

Christina Eaken filed a lawsuit March 3 in Madison County Circuit Court against Bruce T. Vest, Oscar Lin, Saint Anthony's Health Center, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic, Figueroa and Associates Group, Alton Memorial Hospital, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation and BJC Healthcare.

Eaken claims Vest, who worked for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic, performed surgery on her back at Saint Anthony's Health Center on March 5, 2009. The remaining defendants helped perform the surgery in some way, according to the complaint.

"Each of the defendants failed to use reasonable care in the back operation, and in the follow up treatment for the back operation, in that they left in the back a piece of bone which was detached from the skeletal structure of Plaintiff, that was approximately eight inches in length, which was allowed to degrade and decompose in Plaintiff's body, and otherwise further injure Plaintiff," the suit states.

Because of the defendants' actions, Eaken had to undergo an additional two surgeries and experienced pain and suffering, the complaint says. In addition, she claims she incurred medical costs and lost income.

In her complaint, Eaken seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Eaken of East Alton will be appearing pro se.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-205.