Medical Malpractice Litigations Involving Infant Craniosynostosis and Deformational Plagiocephaly in the United States

Abstract

Objective

To identify characteristics of malpractice litigations involving skull deformity in infants (craniosynostosis and deformational plagiocephaly).

Design

Retrospective review of all lawsuits with jury verdicts or settlements involving infant skull deformity as the primary diagnosis using the Westlaw Legal Database.

Setting

United States.

Patients, Participants

Plaintiffs with skull deformity as the primary diagnosis.

Main Outcome Measures

Litigation outcome and indemnity payment amount.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, 9 cases involving infant skull deformity met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Among these cases, 8 (88.9%) cases resulted in indemnity payments to plaintiffs, totaling $30,430,000. Failure to diagnose (n = 4, 44.4%) and surgical negligence (n = 3, 33.3%) were the most common reasons for litigations.

Conclusions

There were a small number of malpractice lawsuits involving infant skull deformity over three decades. When cases go to court, physicians and hospitals have a high likelihood of judgment against them, frequently resulting in high indemnity payments.