{ "id": 4180989, "name": "MARKUS PERRY, and his wife, VERONICA PERRY, Plaintiffs v. THE PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, HAWTHORNE CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS, and DAVID SCOTT ANDREWS, M.D., Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Perry v. Presbyterian Hospital", "decision_date": "2011-01-04", "docket_number": "No. COA10-150", "first_page": "96", "last_page": "106", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "209 N.C. App. 96" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "628 S.E.2d 851", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12635639 ], "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "857", "parenthetical": "quotations and citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/628/0851-01" ] }, { "cite": "663 S.E.2d 450", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12641536 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "452", "parenthetical": "additional citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/663/0450-01" ] }, { "cite": "669 S.E.2d 572", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "578" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "362 N.C. 569", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4150896 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "577" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/362/0569-01" ] }, { "cite": "268 S.E.2d 190", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "193-94", "parenthetical": "\"[I]f there is any question as to the credibility of affiants in a summary judgment motion or if there is a question which can be resolved only by the weight of the evidence, summary judgment should be denied.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "300 N.C. 651", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564292 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "655", "parenthetical": "\"[I]f there is any question as to the credibility of affiants in a summary judgment motion or if there is a question which can be resolved only by the weight of the evidence, summary judgment should be denied.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/300/0651-01" ] }, { "cite": "591 S.E.2d 521", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "\"Summary judgment is not appropriate where matters of credibility and determining the weight of the evidence exist.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "358 N.C. 131", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2985562 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "\"Summary judgment is not appropriate where matters of credibility and determining the weight of the evidence exist.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/358/0131-01" ] }, { "cite": "580 S.E.2d 732", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "735" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "158 N.C. App. 208", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9186665 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "212" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/158/0208-01" ] }, { "cite": "177 N.C. App. 290", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8301249 ], "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "299", "parenthetical": "quotations and citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/177/0290-01" ] }, { "cite": "381 S.E.2d 706", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "712", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "325 N.C. 152", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2491380 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "162", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/325/0152-01" ] }, { "cite": "191 N.C. App. 367", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4158984 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "370", "parenthetical": "additional citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/191/0367-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 995, "char_count": 22586, "ocr_confidence": 0.748, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.1373597456840148 }, "sha256": "12608530c006991d59b567cdc1754f4ce7bc891d7d2f15a034b1899ecc5bb38f", "simhash": "1:8345ee6d44278464", "word_count": 3806 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:06:47.704823+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges JACKSON and STEPHENS concur.", "Judge JACKSON concurred prior to 31 December 2010." ], "parties": [ "MARKUS PERRY, and his wife, VERONICA PERRY, Plaintiffs v. THE PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, HAWTHORNE CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS, and DAVID SCOTT ANDREWS, M.D., Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ELMORE, Judge.\nMarkus Perry and his wife, Veronica Perry (together, plaintiffs), appeal an order of summary judgment entered in favor of The Presbyterian Hospital (defendant or defendant hospital). After careful consideration, we reverse the order of summary judgment and remand to the trial court for additional proceedings.\nBackground\nMr. Perry was admitted to the defendant hospital on 14 August 2006 for surgery to repair the mitral valve of his heart. The surgery was performed by David Scott Andrews, M.D., and lasted approximately nine hours, which is an unusually long time for this procedure. Most thoracic operations in hospitals similar to the defendant hospital are performed within three hours, which is considered a \u201cmoderate\u201d length of time, and it would be unusual for an operation to last longer than four hours. Dr. Andrews inserted cannulas into Mr. Perry\u2019s femoral artery and vein to circulate blood through the heart/lung bypass machine, which maintains oxygenation and circulation while the heart surgery is performed. A femoral cannula blocks the artery going to the lower part of the leg; as a result of the cannulation, blood flow to Mr. Perry\u2019s lower leg was reduced. The longer a cannula is in the femoral artery, the longer \u201cit reduces the blood flow to the leg, cuts off the blood flow to the leg, and increases muscle ischemia and ischemia to the tissues.\u201d A well documented risk of the reduced circulation associated with femoral cannulation is major damage to the muscles of the leg, resulting in amputation or even death. In particular, compartment syndrome is a high risk complication of cannulating a leg for a long period of time. Compartment syndrome is the compression of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels within a closed space, or compartment, of the body. It is caused by extreme pressure within the connective tissue that separates groups of muscles, called the fascia.\nAfter the surgery was complete, Mr. Perry was admitted to the' Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit (CVRU) at the defendant hospital and was cared for by Dr. Andrews and the CVRU nurses, who were employees of the defendant hospital. Mr. Perry was in poor condition following the surgery, and he endured a difficult post-operative recovery period. Among other things, he was on a ventilator with high concentrations of oxygen, he had blood clots in his chest, and he gained about forty pounds of fluid as a result of the bypass. His creatinine level was also elevated, which is a sign of kidney failure.\nMr. Perry was sedated and unable to speak for several days following his surgery. However, two days after the surgery, nurse Sylvia White lifted his sedation and Mrs. Perry told Nurse White that she thought her husband was in a lot of pain. The nurse told Mrs. Perry that Mr. Perry wanted to write something, but that he was too weak, and the nurse would not let him write anything. Nevertheless, Mrs. Perry was concerned and wanted to figure out what her husband was trying to communicate. He pointed down to his leg, and Mrs. Perry thought that he had a cramp. She told the nurse that she thought he had a cramp in his leg, and that that was what he was trying to communicate. The nurse replied that she was glad that Mrs. Perry had \u201cfigured it out.\u201d However, when Mrs. Perry went to massage Mr. Perry\u2019s leg to ease his cramp, she noticed that his calf was \u201charder than ... a normal leg.\u201d At some point during the conversation between Mrs. Perry and Nurse White, Mr. Perry indicated with his eyes that he was experiencing pain in his leg. That same day, Mr. Perry\u2019s parents were in the hospital room with Mrs. Perry. Mr. Perry\u2019s right foot was uncovered, and his father said, \u201cMark\u2019s foot is cold. And it\u2019s purple. Look at it.\u201d They called Nurse White over to look at Mr. Perry\u2019s foot, telling her that it was cold and \u201cpurple or blue.\u201d Nurse White replied, \u201cthat\u2019s normal afer heart surgery.\u201d The Perrys did not talk to Dr. Andrews about the cold, blue foot because Nurse White had reassured them that it was common.\nThat night, at approximately 1 a.m. on 17 August 2006, CVRU nurse Tim McMurray who was caring for Mr. Perry noted that there was no pulse in his right foot. Nurse McMurray contacted Dr. Andrews\u2019s physician\u2019s assistant, who then contacted Dr. Andrews. Dr. Andrews determined that Mr. Perry had developed compartment syndrome in his right leg, and Dr. Andrews immediately performed a fasciotomy to address the condition. A fasciotomy is a surgical procedure in which long incisions are made to separate the connective tissue that separates groups of muscles to relieve the pressure within the muscle compartment. Despite the corrective procedure, a lot of the muscle and nerve tissue in Mr. Perry\u2019s right leg had already died. Mr. Perry underwent extensive debridement of dead tissue, losing approximately thirty percent of the muscle mass in his right leg. He has permanently lost feeling in his right foot, beginning two inches above his ankle. His right leg is permanently disfigured and unsightly, and he has difficulty walking.\nPlaintiffs sued defendant, Hawthorne Cardiovascular Surgeons, P.A., and Dr. Andrews. In their amended complaint, plaintiffs alleged that defendant was negligent in its care and treatment of Mr. Perry because it \u201cfail[ed] to ensure that its employees, servants, and agents would properly' monitor and manage Mr. Perry\u2019s postoperative recovery\u201d and defendant\u2019s \u201cemployees, servants, and agents [failed] to appropriately detect and report Mr. Perry\u2019s signs and symptoms of compartmental syndrome and to act upon it before it became an irreversible problem.\u201d The amended complaint alleged that the nurses who provided care to Mr. Perry were \u201cemployees, agents, or servants of defendant Hospital\u201d and that Dr. Andrews was \u201can agent or servant of defendant Hospital.\u201d The amended complaint also included claims for loss of consortium and emotional distress.\nAfter plaintiffs deposed their expert witnesses, defendant moved for summary judgment. The trial court granted defendant\u2019s motion and also granted a stay of proceedings in plaintiffs\u2019 case against Hawthorne Cardiovascular Surgeons and Dr. Andrews until plaintiffs\u2019 appeal to this Court is complete. Plaintiffs now appeal.\nPlaintiffs argue that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment to defendant because the evidence establishes a genuine issue of material fact as to causation. We agree.\nSummary judgment is properly granted \u201cif the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(c) (2007). This Court reviews an order allowing summary judgment de novo.\nIn deciding a motion for summary judgment, a trial court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. If there is any evidence of a genuine issue of material fact, a motion for summary judgment should be denied. The moving party bears the burden of showing that no triable issue of fact exists. This burden can be met by proving: (1) that an essential element of the non-moving party\u2019s claim is nonexistent; (2) that discovery indicates the non-moving party cannot produce evidence to support an essential element of his claim; or (3) that the non-moving party cannot surmount an affirmative defense which would bar the claim. Once the moving party has met its burden, the non-moving party must forecast evidence that demonstrates the existence of a prima facie case.\nAzar v. Presbyterian Hosp., 191 N.C. App. 367, 370, 663 S.E.2d 450, 452 (2008) (additional citations omitted). The essential elements of a medical negligence claim are: \u201c(1) the standard of care, (2) breach of the standard of care, (3) proximate causation, and (4) damages.\u201d Turner v. Duke University, 325 N.C. 152, 162, 381 S.E.2d 706, 712 (1989) (citation omitted). Here, the only element in question is causation.\nTwo of plaintiffs\u2019 expert witnesses, Nevin M. Katz, M.D., and Robert M. Bojar, M.D., testified during their depositions that Dr. Andrews breached the standard of care by not creating a heightened awareness for compartment syndrome in his notes or by orders to the nursing staff. Dr. Katz also testified that it was a breach of the standard of care for Dr. Andrews not to lighten Mr. Perry\u2019s anesthesia in order to ask Mr. Perry whether he could move his foot, whether he was experiencing pain and, if so, where that pain was. According to Dr. Katz, pain in the leg is a \u201creally important sign[] of leg ischemia and leg impending necrosis[.]\u201d Had Dr. Andrews asked the nurses to lighten the anesthesia and to ask Mr. Perry, \u201cDoes your leg hurt,\u201d and had Mr. Perry pointed to his leg, then the caregiving team \u201cwould have known that muscle was dying and that the compartment syndrome was having an effect. In addition, one could ask him to move his foot, and if he couldn\u2019t move his foot, then that would have been an additional indication.\u201d Dr. Katz testified that, had Dr. Andrews been appropriately concerned about compartment syndrome, he would have been measuring the creatinine phosphokinase muscle fraction (CPKMM) levels, which rise when muscle dies and are an indicator of muscle death and compartment syndrome. CPKMM levels were very high when they were measured on 17 and 18 August 2006, after the compartment syndrome was discovered, but Dr. Katz explained that if the care team had begun measuring CPKMM levels \u201cearly postoperatively, they would have seen the rise in the CPK[MM], and one would have said there is irreversible damage.\u201d Dr. Katz testified that it was a breach of the standard of care for Dr. Andrews to fail to order CPKMM measurements. He also testified that Mr. Perry developed kidney failure as a result of the compartment syndrome, and creatinine levels, which were measured postoperatively, suggested kidney failure stemming from muscle death.\nDr. Katz testified that a heightened awareness of Mr. Perry\u2019s risk for compartment syndrome \u201ccould\u201d have allowed an early fasciotomy. He explained, \u201cWhether it would have prevented most of the damage, I \u25a0 don\u2019t know, but I suspect it would have made an important difference.\u201d In particular, an earlier fasciotomy would have made an \u201c[i]mportant difference in terms of the amount of muscle that had to be debrided,\u201d though he qualified that statement by saying,\nI am not able to and I don\u2019t know that anybody would know, along the time scale from the time of the operation to the time of fasciotomy, when all the irreversible damage occurred. And all I know is that there were signs it was going on early after surgery, and if we had more laboratory information, we would have been able to pinpoint it better.\nSimilarly, Dr. Bojar testified that Mr. Perry\u2019s compartment syndrome was discovered once his pedal pulse disappeared, which is \u201can extremely late phase of compartment syndrome[.]\u201d When asked to pinpoint the exact moment that \u201cthe cell death in Mr. Perry\u2019s leg reach[ed] the point of no return in that nothing was going to make th[e] outcome different,\u201d Dr. Bojar explained:\nWe know that compartment syndromes once they\u2019re established, cell death occurs, it\u2019s written six to ten hours after that.\nSo I believe that the initial cell death was occurring most of the 16th [of August] and perhaps starting on the evening of the 15th [of August] because once there is a slight decrease in pulse, that\u2019s a very ominous sign because that shouldn\u2019t have happened because that\u2019s the last thing you see.\nSo I believe that the progression of ischemia from the reprofusion time and all the different phenomena post-op which is causing more capillary leak and more fluids caused more compartment syndrome and it [was] evident even on the 15th.\nSo I believe some irreversible injury was occurring as early muscle necrosis on the evening of the 15th into the 16th.\nThe following colloquy then ensued between counsel and Dr. Bojar:\nQ. So if there is muscle necrosis on the evening of the 15th, if a fasciotomy had been performed on the evening of the 15th, let\u2019s just pick a time, at 7 p.m., change of shift, would Mr. Perry\u2019s outcome have been any different than it is today.\nA. Yes. The reason I say that is it\u2019s a progressive phenomenon, that is, the earlier you intervene, you have less damage.\nQ. And are you able to quantify that?\nA. I cannot.\nQ. So what I hear you saying, and I don\u2019t mean to belabor the point, but what I hear you saying is in terms of the compartment syndrome, which we know is absolutely irreversible \u2014\nA. Well, it\u2019s irreversible if it\u2019s treated too late.\nQ. Right. \u2014 your opinion is it could have been as early as the end of the surgery on the 14th?\nA. In theory it\u2019s possible because of the fact that he complained of pain on the morning of the 15th per Mrs. Perry, that\u2019s a sign of ischemia of your nerves and your muscles at that time.\nNow, that does not mean that is irreversible damage at that time, but it\u2019s a manifestation [o]f inferior perfusion so we don\u2019t know the exact progression of how impaired the perfusion became and what the repeatedly [sic] was.\nSo if one had intervened on the 14th or 15th or even early on the 16th, the amount of damage would have been less, but there would have been damage.\nQ. And you\u2019re not able to quantify how much damage there would have been?\nA. At any point it\u2019s impossible to say, it\u2019s simply progressive.\n* * *\nQ. If . . . Dr. Andrews had intervened and performed a fasciotomy on the morning of the 15th, can you say to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that Mr. Perry\u2019s outcome would be different than it is today?\nA. Yes.\nQ. And can you quantify how different the outcome would be? A. Better.\nQ. So the answer is no, you can\u2019t quanti[f]y it?\nA. Well, I can quantify it in quantum leaps. You can\u2019t give an exact percentage because no one knows and anybody that gives you an answer with a number is making it up.\nThe point is if he is having ischemia on the morning of the 15th with pain, he may be having minimal damage that\u2019s irreversible so he may have a fasciotomy and have no damage whatsoever.\nWhen I say damage, I mean clinical damage as opposed to microscopic damage.\nLater on the 15th, again, we don\u2019t know even though I believe he had some increase in his compartment pressures leading to a compartment syndrome, we can\u2019t say it\u2019s irreversible at that time either, but it could have been.\nBut on the 16th I think it would have been irreversible and progressive over the course of the 16th and the 17th. So I know I am sort of answering your question because I am answering the best I can.\nPlaintiffs presented sufficient evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact with respect to Dr. Andrews\u2019s negligence, but whether Dr. Andrews\u2019s alleged negligence can be attributed to defendant is a different matter.\nAs this Court has held, under the doctrine of respondeat superior, a hospital is liable for the negligence of a physician or surgeon acting as its agent. There will generally be no vicarious liability on an employer for the negligent acts of an independent contractor. This Court has established that the vital test in determining whether an agency relationship exists is to be found in the fact that the employer has or has not retained the right of control or superintendence over the contractor or employee as to details. Specifically, the principal must have the right to control both the means and the details of the process by which the agent is to accomplish his task in order for an agency relationship to exist.\nDiggs v. Novant Health, Inc., 177 N.C. App. 290, 299, 628 S.E.2d 851, 857 (2006) (quotations and citations omitted). Here, plaintiffs have not provided sufficient evidence that Dr. Andrews was defendant\u2019s agent. In an interrogatory answer, defendant said that Dr. Andrews was not an employee of defendant. When asked to produce \u201ca copy of all contracts in effect from August of 2006 through October of 2006 between [defendant] Presbyterian Hospital and any of the other named defendants in this action,\u201d defendant objected to the request and then responded, \u201cSubject to and without waiving this objection, this Defendant is not aware of any documents responsive to this request.\u201d It is not apparent from the record before us that defendant retained control over Dr. Andrews such that an agency relationship existed between them. Accordingly, plaintiffs\u2019 evidence of Dr. Andrews\u2019s alleged negligence cannot be imputed to defendant.\nHowever, plaintiffs also deposed two nursing experts, Frances R. Eason, R.N., Ed.D., and Rosemarie Ameen, BSN, CCRN, CINC. Eason testified that the nursing staff deviated from the standard of care, but she testified that she could not say that these breaches were the proximate cause of Mr. Perry\u2019s injuries. Ameen also testified that the nursing staff deviated from the standard of care for various reasons, and that defendant deviated from the standard of care by failing to teach its nurses to recognize the signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome.\nAmeen then testified that the nurses\u2019 failure to inform Dr. Andrews when Mr. Perry\u2019s pulse changed caused Mr. Perry\u2019s adverse outcome. Dr. Andrews ordered the nurses to check the pulses in Mr. Perry\u2019s feet every four hours. The nurses assessed the strength of those pulses using a scale of one to three, with three being a \u201cstrong and palpable\u201d pulse and one being \u201cintermittently palpable.\u201d The strength of the pulse in Mr. Perry\u2019s right foot dropped from a three at 6 p.m. on 15 August 2006 to a two at 7 p.m. on 15 August 2006. It dropped again from a two at 9 p.m. on 15 August 2006 to a one at 7 a.m. on 16 August 2006. Although Dr. Andrews ordered the nurses to check Mr. Perry\u2019s pulses every four hours, there was no record that Nurse McMurray checked the pulse in Mr. Perry\u2019s right foot between 9 p.m. on 15 August 2006 and 7 a.m. on 16 August 2006. According to' Ameen, \u201chad a doctor been notified of the change in pulse from three to one at three a.m. on August 15th[,] . . . the outcome for Mr. Perry-more likely than not would have been different.\u201d However, Ameen later provided conflicting testimony:\nQ. But you can\u2019t sit here and tell me that more likely than not had Dr. Andrews been notified or someone on his \u2014 in his practice been notified at three a.m. on August the 15th that that would have more likely than not altered the outcome for Mr. Perry, can you?\n[COUNSEL]: Object to the form. It\u2019s already been answered. She\u2019s already answered the question.\nA. No, I can\u2019t tell you that for sure.\nQ. Okay. And at any other point that you\u2019ve opined that the nurses should have notified the doctor with regard to Mr. Perry\u2019s condition are you able to tell me that had the doctor been notified at any of those other instances where you believe he should have that more likely than not the outcome would have been different for Mr. Perry?\nA. I can\u2019t \u2014 -I can\u2019t say yea or nay.\nQ. Okay.\nA. It\u2019s \u2014 -because I can\u2019t \u2014 you know, I can\u2019t say what the doctor would have done or not done.\nAmeen\u2019s testimony was inconsistent on this point, but resolving that inconsistency is not appropriate when deciding a motion for summary judgment. See Draughon v. Harnett County Bd. of Educ., 158 N.C. App. 208, 212, 580 S.E.2d 732, 735 (2003), off\u2019d per curiam, 358 N.C. 131, 591 S.E.2d 521 (2004) (\u201cSummary judgment is not appropriate where matters of credibility and determining the weight of the evidence exist.\u201d); see also City of Thomasville v. Lease-Afex, Inc., 300 N.C. 651, 655, 268 S.E.2d 190, 193-94 (1980) (\u201c[I]f there is any question as to the credibility of affiants in a summary judgment motion or if there is a question which can be resolved only by the weight of the evidence, summary judgment should be denied.\u201d).\nBased on the record before us, plaintiffs have raised genuine issues of material fact with respect to their negligence claim against defendant. Plaintiffs\u2019 nursing experts opined that the nurses, defendant\u2019s employees, deviated from the standard of care. Although Eason testified that she could not state that these breaches caused Mr. Perry\u2019s injuries, Ameen did testify that the nurses\u2019 breaches caused Mr. Perry\u2019s \u201cadverse outcome.\u201d She also testified that, in her opinion, if the nurses had notified Dr. Andrews of the drop in pulse quality on 15 August 2006, it is \u201cmore likely than not\u201d that Mr. Perry\u2019s outcome would have been different. Dr. Bojar and Dr. Katz both testified that Dr. Andrews\u2019s earlier intervention would have changed Mr. Perry\u2019s outcome. Dr. Katz testified that Dr. Andrews could have safely performed the fasciotomy earlier. Although none of the experts could say exactly what percentage of Mr. Perry\u2019s injuries could have been averted if Dr. Andrews had performed the fasciotomy one or two days earlier, all of the experts agreed that compartment syndrome is progressive and that earlier intervention would have prevented at least some of the damage to Mr. Perry\u2019s leg.\nAccordingly, we hold that summary judgment was inappropriate, and we reverse the order of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.\nReverse and remand.\nJudges JACKSON and STEPHENS concur.\nJudge JACKSON concurred prior to 31 December 2010.\n. Because we review an order of summary judgment de novo, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. In re Will of Jones, 362 N.C. 569, 577, 669 S.E.2d 572, 578 (2008).\n. When Dr. Andrews removed the femoral arterial cannula, the artery tore in two. Dr. Andrews sewed the artery back together, and he felt \u201ca good pulse distally\u201d after the procedure.", "type": "majority", "author": "ELMORE, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Ferguson, Stein, Chambers, Gresham & Sumter, P.A., by James E. Ferguson, II, C. Margaret Errington, and Lareena Jones Phillips, for plaintiffs.", "Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, by Scott M. Stevenson, Stacy Stevenson, and Christian Staples, for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "MARKUS PERRY, and his wife, VERONICA PERRY, Plaintiffs v. THE PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, HAWTHORNE CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS, and DAVID SCOTT ANDREWS, M.D., Defendants\nNo. COA10-150\n(Filed 4 January 2011)\nMedical Malpractice\u2014 causation \u2014 compartment syndrome\u2014 genuine issue of material fact\nThe trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of defendants in a medical malpractice case where the evidence established a genuine issue of material fact as to the cause of plaintiffs compartment syndrome.\nAppeal by plaintiffs from order entered 8 October 2009 by Judge Richard D. Boner in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 2 September 2010.\nFerguson, Stein, Chambers, Gresham & Sumter, P.A., by James E. Ferguson, II, C. Margaret Errington, and Lareena Jones Phillips, for plaintiffs.\nShumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, by Scott M. Stevenson, Stacy Stevenson, and Christian Staples, for defendants." }, "file_name": "0096-01", "first_page_order": 106, "last_page_order": 116 }