Trigeminal nerve injuries following dental procedures: A retrospective analysis of malpractice claims from 2016 to 2023 in South Korea.

Autor: Kim MJ; Healthcare, Legal and Policy Center, Legal Research Institute of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: drphkim@gmail.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of forensic and legal medicine [J Forensic Leg Med] 2024 Aug; Vol. 106, pp. 102730. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 30.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102730
Abstrakt: Background: Dental malpractice claims, which pertain to legal actions against dentists accused of clinical negligence that caused harm to patients, have increased in the past ten years in South Korea. The claims are caused by complications, particularly trigeminal nerve injuries, resulting from various dental procedures. Medicolegal issues related to trigeminal nerve injury have not been previously described in South Korea. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify the general, dental, and judicial characteristics of closed dental malpractice claims.
Methods: This study was designed as a descriptive study. We collected the data of 51 closed claims related to trigeminal nerve injury resulting from dental procedures such as dental implant emplacement, tooth extraction, and local anesthesia. The claims were decided by courts in South Korea between 2016 and 2023. The general, dental, and judicial characteristics of the claims were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The average claim resolution period was 4.2 (range: 1.47-8.39) years post-adverse events that occurred more frequently in dental clinics (68.6 %) than in dental (25.5 %) or general hospitals (5.9 %). Inferior alveolar (66.7 %) and lingual (17.6 %) nerves were injured following dental procedures. The duty to inform was breached in 68.6 % of claims. The dental procedure performed (P < 0.001) and the injured nerve (P < 0.001) were associated with the violation of the duty to care.
Conclusion: To improve the quality of dental care services, the analysis of the adverse events using various resources including judgments should be strongly addressed.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author declares no conflicts of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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