Michael Laird, MD, orthopedic surgeon at San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based Central Coast Orthopedic Medical Group, is facing a lawsuit for allegedly replacing a knee with hardware that he knew was too big, according to an Aug. 5 report from The Tribune.
According to the lawsuit, Dr. Laird operated on Barbara Ryan on May 31, 2019, replacing her knee. Following the procedure, Ms. Ryan was experienced more pain than before the procedure.
Her pain continued to worsen for four years before she sought a second opinion and discovered that her replacement was too large for her knee.
The lawsuit alleges that over the four years, Dr. Laird repeatedly took X-rays of the knee and told Ms. Ryan that her pain was due to slow healing or an allergy to the metal.
The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Laird, Central Coast Orthopedic Medical Group and French Hospital were aware the prosthetic was the wrong size and inserted it anyways, and then ignored the issues that arose from the incorrectly performed procedure.
Dr. Laird and Central Coast Orthopedic Medical Group did not respond to The Tribune's request for comment on the allegations.
Ms. Ryan is suing Dr. Laird alleging medical negligence, battery, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in the lawsuit.
On Sept. 25, 2023, she sought care from a specialist who drained fluid from her knee, sent her to physical therapy for two months and ultimately decided to perform an additional operation.
After the surgery was complete, the surgeon told Ms. Ryan that loose hardware was a major contributor to her pain.
After the second surgery, Ms. Ryan "immediately felt different," and her chronic pain was gone and she was able to successfully walk without a cane or walker and participate in physical therapy, according to the report.
Central Coast Orthopedic Medical Group has not responded to Becker's request for comment.