Orthopedic Surgeons at Greater Risk of Malpractice Claims for Treatment of Primary Malignant Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Compared With Metastatic Bone Disease

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine cases of malpractice litigation in primary sarcoma and metastatic bone disease in orthopedic oncology, to identify the areas in which orthopedic surgeons may be guilty of negligence, and to make them aware of this.MethodsA comprehensive examination was conducted on all closed medical malpractice cases involving bone and soft tissue malignant tumors from 2014 to 2024. Patient demographics, histopathological diagnosis, and malpractice claims made in a variety of specialties were recorded. The inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study resulted in the inclusion of 70 cases of primary bone and soft tissue sarcoma and 36 cases of metastatic bone disease.ResultsA total of 47 primary tumors were bone sarcoma and 23 were soft tissue sarcoma. A total of 11 patients with primary sarcoma were accepted for malpractice claims, representing 16% of all cases within this category. Nevertheless, no evidence of malpractice was identified among the patients with metastatic bone disease (p = 0.012). Orthopedists (44 of 85 defendants), pathologists (14 of 85 defendants), and radiologists (7 of 85 defendants) were the most common defendants in primary sarcoma malpractice cases. Surgeons other than orthopedists (21 of 49 defendants), medical oncologists (4 of 49 defendants), and radiation oncologists (4 of 49 defendants) were the most common defendants in metastatic bone disease malpractice cases.ConclusionAnalysis of our cases suggests that malpractice claims are more likely filed against orthopedic surgeons for the treatment of primary malignant bone and soft tissue tumors than for metastatic bone disease.