The plaintiff, age sixty, underwent an uneventful knee replacement surgery and was in the process of rehabilitative physical therapy when she re-injured the knee. The plaintiff claimed that she lost her balance and fell off a telephone book she was using for “step up” therapy during an at-home physical therapy session. A therapist from defendant therapy firm was with the plaintiff when she fell. The plaintiff sustained a sprained ankle and dislocated patella. The plaintiff required surgery on the kneecap to replace certain parts of the original knee replacement. The plaintiff claimed that the success of her original knee replacement was diminished by the injury. The plaintiff claimed that the therapist was negligent in having her use a telephone book in the therapy and that she lost her balance because the therapist was not paying attention.

The defendant contended that it was reasonable to use natural features in a home for at-home therapy and that using a phone book was a standard therapy. The defendant also claimed that the plaintiff presented no proof that the phone book caused her to lose her balance.

According to a reporter a defense verdict was returned.

With permission from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts; Lewis Laska, Editor, 901 Church St., Nashville, TN 37203-3411, 1-800-298-6288.