A man has filed suit against Lincoln Surgical Group and one of its doctors, alleging he suffered severe abdominal pains following a surgery during which the doctor damaged the man's ilioinguinal nerve.
Joseph Niebruegge claims Dr. D. Scott Crouch performed a left inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh placement on him on Nov. 12, 2007. However, during the surgery, Crouch allegedly negligently caused ilioinguinal neuralgia, which happens when the ilioinguinal nerve is compressed, according to the complaint filed April 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
In addition, during the surgery, the doctor allegedly failed to properly look for the nerve and failed to properly protect the nerve during the surgery, the suit states.
Because of the surgery, Niebruegge suffered severe and permanent disability, incurred medical costs and lost income, the complaint says.
Niebruegge also names Lincoln Surgical Group as a defendant. Crouch worked for Lincoln Surgical Group at the time of the surgery, according to the complaint.
He also names St. Elizabeth's Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis as a defendant, saying it failed to provide adequate post-surgical care. Because of the post-operative care, Niebruegge fell when he failed to receive adequate support, the complaint says. Doctors at the hospital also failed to adequately monitor Niebruegge's condition, the suit states.
In his three-count suit, Niebruegge is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs.
Jack A. Strellis of Strellis and Field in Waterloo will be representing him.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-180.
Med mal suit filed against Lincoln Surgical Group
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