Perineal Tear Injury Compensation Claims Solicitors.

Perineal tears are classified according to the degree and severity of damage which has occurred, as follows:

• First degree tear – this is an injury to the back of the vaginal opening and the skin of the perineum, it is typically small in size, minor in severity, and does not require stitches in order to heal.
• Second degree tear – this type of injury is a midline tear which involves the perineal muscles and the back of the vagina, and will require stitches.
• Third degree tear – this type of tear involves the perineal skin and muscles, the back of the vagina, and extends through to the anal sphincter, and requires repair in surgery.
• Fourth degree tear – this is similar to a third degree tear but it also extends into the rectum, vagina, and anus, and requires repair in surgery.
• Periurethral laceration – this is a tear at the top of the vagina where it meets the urethral opening, and is often quite small, requiring a couple of stitches to heal.

If you have experienced a perineal or vaginal tear of any degree and you believe it to be caused or worsened due to medical negligence, please speak to us as soon as possible and we can advise you on whether or not you have a claim.

Although it is often difficult to predict or prevent a perineal tear from occurring during childbirth, there are a number of risk factors which may mean that a tear is more likely to occur, including:

• Induction of labour
• Administration of epidural
• Baby with a birth weight in excess of 4kg/8lb 13oz
• Baby experiences shoulder dystocia
• Assisted delivery using forceps
• Prolonged second stage labour
• Baby in occipito-posterior position
• Mother receives a midline episiotomy
• Previous third or fourth degree tear
• The first vaginal delivery

If  any of the above risk factors are identified, the midwife or obstetrician may decide to perform an episiotomy to allow more space for the baby to be delivered. However, an episiotomy does not always work in preventing further tearing so it can be a difficult decision for medical professionals to make.

Once the baby has been delivered, a midwife or doctor will usually perform a detailed examination in order to assess whether any perineal or vaginal tearing has occurred, and to what extent. If a first degree tear is identified, usually painkillers are given and the wound is left to heal naturally. A second degree tear will usually be treated by the midwife or obstetrician who will suture it with dissolvable stitches under a local anaesthetic.

In the instance of a third or fourth degree tear, usually surgery to repair the wound will be needed, either under a general or regional anaesthetic such as an epidural or spinal injection. After surgery, the wound will be examined again to ensure the stitches have been applied correctly, and antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent infection, along with laxatives in order to prevent undue pressure on the area whilst it heals. Providing there is no delay in discovering and treating the tear, and the severity of the tear is appropriately recognised and repaired, most women will make a full recovery within 12 months of the procedure.

If a perineal tear goes unnoticed at first, or if it is not repaired correctly, it can lead to a number of potential complications, including:

• Risk of infection in the wound causing bleeding, swelling, and pain
• A swollen and bruised wound can affect defecation and urination
• Failed stitches can lead to a fistula where faecal matter passes from the rectum into the vagina
• Damaged perineal muscles can cause general pain in the abdominal and pelvic area
• Haematomas can occur in and around the wound site and may need draining
• Anal or bladder incontinence could occur if the wound is not repaired adequately
• The impact of the wound can affect maternal bonding and could aggravate postnatal depression

If you experienced perineal or vaginal tearing during childbirth and have experienced any problems as your wound has healed, it is important to speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

If you feel that the care you received was negligent and has caused these further problems for you, speak to us here at Lanyon Bowdler and we can help you to seek justice as you recover from your ordeal.

The doctors and midwives responsible for you during childbirth owe you a duty of care, and if that duty of care is breached and they fail to provide the level of care necessary to keep you safe and well, they can be considered negligent.

Some of the ways in which medical negligence can lead to it being necessary to make a perineal tear compensation claim include:

• Failure to consider the risk factors for perineal tears
• Failure to advise the mother on the risks before the birth
• Failure to take preventative action to minimise the risk of tearing
• Failure to identify and repair a tear in the correct time frame
• Failure to respond to respond to abnormal symptoms or signs of infection
• Failure to correctly identify the severity of the tear
• Failure to appropriately repair the tear.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and if you have experienced any kind of negligent care from the midwives or doctors responsible for you during childbirth and postnatally, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.