Thelman Jameel Ibrahim and Janice Jordan Ibrahim vs. Eric S. Furie and The Buckhead Sports Medicine and Spine Center, P.C.

Thelman Jameel Ibrahim, 17 year old high school football player, suffered a major knee injury in August, 2003 during a game. Thelman underwent surgery on November 17, 2003 at Atlanta Medical Center by Dr. Eric S. Furie for repair of ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscal tears.

During the surgery, Dr. Furie negligently injured Mr. Ibrahim's popliteal artery, a known significant risk for this type of procedure. Approximately six hours into the surgery the anesthesiologist advised Dr. Furie of the patient's decreasing blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and low hematocrit. Dr. Furie considered vascular injury but negligently failed to rule it out or call a vascular consult. Mr. Ibrahim continued to display signs of uncontrolled bleeding for approximately four more hours before Dr. Furie finally called a vascular surgeon.

Once at the bedside, the vascular surgeon identified a significant tear in the popliteal artery and surgically repaired it. Due to prolonged uncontrolled bleeding and excessive swelling, Dr. Furie performed prophylactic fasciotomies to prevent the development of compartment syndrome and then continued with the knee repair. Surgery ended over 18 hours after it began leaving Mr. Ibrahim with a permanent foot drop and fasciotomy scars.

Marilyn Oakes, CRC, LPC,
Certified Life Care Planner,
Atlanta, Georgia

John E. Brown, Ph.D., Economist, Duluth, Georgia