Repair Of Labial Tear After Childbirth
If you are left with a labial deformity after childbirth, you may wish to undergo surgical treatment to remove any excess labial tissue. However, labial reduction does carry a number of potential risks. If a complication does indeed arise and a woman was not given sufficient information before surgery, or there was a shortfall in standard of surgery, there may be grounds for a compensation claim.
Labial Tear during Childbirth
Labial perforation is a recognised complication of vaginal delivery. However, it is one that should be readily identified by medical professionals soon after the birth. This is because all women who have a vaginal delivery must have a pelvic and rectal examination to ensure any injuries are detected and repaired; therefore a labial tear should be spotted and an appropriate course of treatment devised before a woman is sent home from hospital.
Repairing Labial Tears
The type of treatment provided for a labial tear will vary depending upon the extent of injury. If the trauma is superficial, a midwife may decide to insert a couple of stitches (known as sutures) to help the wound repair. However, this can be particularly painful, and so a woman should be consulted upon what she wishes to do. It may be best to leave the injury until swelling has reduced; treatment can then be undertaken at a later date if necessary. If this option is decided upon, it is important for medical professionals to provide advice on wound management. Follow-up care must also be arranged to ensure the problem does not deteriorate.
Surgical Repair for Labial Tears
Nevertheless, even if a high standard of care is provided for a labial tear, a woman may still be left with a labial deformity. This can cause a number of problems, including discomfort wearing tight clothes, pain during sexual intercourse, and emotional and psychological distress.
If a woman does sustain a labial deformity after childbirth, she may be referred to a surgeon for a labiaplasty. This is an operation whereby the labia are reduced in size. The simplest way to do this is to trim the labial tissue away and stitch the edges. Alternatively, a surgeon may cut out a triangular piece of tissue and suture the remaining tissue back together.
However, labiaplasty does carry a number of complications, of which a woman should be informed before she signs the consent form. These risks include:-
- Wound infection;
- Breakdown of the repair;
- Haematoma (excessive bleeding) leading to perforation;
- Nerve damage.
Labiaplasty and Medical Negligence
If a woman is not warned of the risks of labiaplasty or offered the various options for surgical treatment, then this may represent a substandard level of care. Furthermore, if the surgery itself is performed without the necessary skills and expertise, causing a woman to suffer injury, then treatment may have fallen below an acceptable standard. If so, it will be possible to pursue a medical negligence claim for the pain and suffering caused.
If you believe your labial deformity was repaired negligently, contact a medical negligence solicitor today to discuss your claim. A legal expert will be able to suggest what action you should take next.
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Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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