A woman had to have her leg amputated after an NHS hospital failed to care for her properly following a horse-riding accident, it has been claimed.
Rachel Rutherford says one of her legs had to be amputated after it was crushed in a fall because medical staff did not carry out basic procedures.
The 48-year-old is now suing Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust for damages of more than £300,000, claiming her life was ruined by its mistakes.
Ms Rutherford underwent five operations before surgeons decided her leg could not be saved, leaving her suffering from severe phantom limb pain, depression and problems with mobility.
As well as suffering from continued pain, she requires antidepressants, along with long-term rehabilitation and physiotherapy, according to legal documents lodged with the High Court.
Royal Cornwall Hospital trust has admitted breach of duty in failing to carry out emergency surgery to release pressure on her leg. However, it denied the breach of duty led to Ms Rutherford having to undergo amputation surgery.
Ms Rutherford's leg and knee were badly injured when she was knocked into a fence by a bolting horse in October 2020.
She underwent an initial five-hour operation to a fractured tibia on October 19 during which Jon Matthews, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, removed fragments of bone from her shattered leg and inserted metalwork.
Mr Matthews instructed colleagues to closely observe her leg for symptoms of compartment syndrome, a condition that occurs when there's too much swelling within a muscle compartment and which is treated by a fasciotomy to remove pressure by making cuts around the muscle.
The High Court will hear that following continued severe pain, Ms Rutherford underwent a second operation, lasting nine hours, on October 20.
By the early hours of the next morning she was still in agony - despite being administered ketamine and then morphine - and underwent fasciotomy surgery on October 23, with three more surgeries before doctors decided that her leg was unlikely to be saved. It was amputated above the knee on November 9 at another hospital, situated closer to her family.
Ms Rutherford, of Helston, Cornwall, claims that had it not been for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust's negligence, she would not have needed her leg amputated.
It is claimed that if fasciotomies had been carried out on October 19, then amputation would have been avoided and Ms Rutherford would probably have retained full function in her leg.
Ms Rutherford claims hospital staff negligently failed to appropriately assess her leg after surgery, and did not comply with Mr Matthews's instructions to closely observe her leg for signs of compartment syndrome.
Her solicitors at Irwin Mitchell state: "If that instruction had been complied with, then the compartment syndrome would have been promptly identified and treated at surgery, and the limb would have been salvaged."
It is also claimed that the decision to carry out fasciotomy was wrongly delayed by at least six hours, causing loss of muscle and leading to the amputation.
Ms Rutherford, who says she will need substantial assistance as she grows older, told The Telegraph: "I'd always considered myself fit and healthy and didn't have any long-term health problems. I enjoyed long hikes and walked everywhere. I was focusing on my passion to work with animals and become a veterinary nurse.
"However, that's all completely gone and it's difficult to find the words to describe how my life has changed. It's not just the physical injuries which have been hard to come to terms with, but also the psychological impact."
She added: "I went from being independent to reliant on others. I've had to adapt and even relearn basic tasks many people take for granted, including getting dressed.
"I have a prosthetic leg but I still struggle with my mobility and live in pain. I only wear it outside and can only walk short distances on level ground. As soon as I'm home I have to take it off because of the pain. I know I can't change what happened but the least I feel I deserve is answers."
Alexandra Winch, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Ms Rutherford, said: "While compartment syndrome is extremely serious, it is treatable with swift diagnosis and surgery. We firmly believe that if it was not for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust's negligence, Rachel's condition would have been recognised and action taken on the day of her initial surgery to treat it.
"While nothing can make up for the physical and psychological trauma Rachel has suffered, we're determined to ensure she can access the specialist care and therapies she needs to continue her recovery and live as independently as possible."
She added: "We call on Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to work with us to resolve this case, allowing Rachel to focus on trying to regain more of her life. However, in the meantime it's also vital that lessons are learnt to improve patient safety for others."
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust was approached for comment.