My hand surgery with D Dellacqua resulted in a permanent deformity of my finger, chronic and persistent pain of this finger, and the need to be monitored for the rest of my life for infection.
1. The hand infection was due to D Dellacqua's violation of the sterile surgical field. When the alleged sterile surgical bandage was removed 7 days post surgery my finger was swollen, red, and painful. The occupational therapist was so concerned about the appearance of my finger that she questioned whether the stitches should be removed. Oral antibiotics were immediately prescribed and a second surgery to incise and drain the infection(pus) was performed within 3 days of removal of the surgical bandage. Due to infection mismanagement the screw used to fuse the joint of my finger had to be removed. I had 3 surgeries in a 3 month period of time. Instead of the usual 6 week splinting of a finger with this type of surgery, I had to wear a splint for over 6 months. Mismanagement of the infection initially by D Dellacqua and then by one of his partners resulted in the development of osteomyelitis. There was concern that it would progress to sepsis. This necessitated that a special IV line be established in my arm and IV antibiotic infused at an hospital facility for 42 consecutive days..
2. I have been in charge of surgery in a large inner city hospital. I found the infection control practices at both the office and the ambulatory surgery center owned by D Dellacqua grossly lacking. While other medical providers in the area were requiring masks for covid infection, masks were not required either in D Dellacqua's office or at the surgery center. I always wore a mask. In fact, there was a bravado sign on the front door of the surgery center stating "FACE MASKS NOT REQUIRED." The surgery center asked me to arrive an hour early and then left me sitting in a crowded waiting room filled with adults and children not wearing masks for over an hour. I do not believe my surgery was performed in a normal surgery rooms as they wheeled me by these rooms to the back of the facility where a lot of equipment was stored. There was considerable tension in the operating room itself during my procedure--I do not know why.
D Dellacqua engaged in lengthy conversation with another physician during surgery who walked into room(without a mask) while Dellacqua was performing the procedure.
At the office, masks were not worn by any of the personnel and I had to ask that the machine surface be wiped before my infected hand was placed on the surface for xays.
3. Because of Dellacqua's violation of the sterile surgical field, the payments for care have been excessive totaling $31,500(based on insurance claims) for a procedure which should have cost only $2670. Dellacqua and his practice received at least $7500(based on insurance claims) additional revenue due to his mistake.
4. My initial surgery was done under a local nerve block administered by D Dellacqua into the palm of my hand. It was stunningly painful and I now have a lump in palm of right hand that is sensitive to the slightest touch. When I asked D Dellacqua about it, he shrugged his shoulders and said "things happen during surgery."
5. This was the first time I have had surgery at a physician owned center. It will be the last. I had tried to obtain the infection rate of the Surgery Center prior to my procedure but was unable to do so as this information is not available to patients.
6. I am now under the care of expert professors and clinicians at one of the top 5 university medical schools in the United States who continue to try to rectify the poor care I received and prevent amputation of my finger. I am trying to put this incident behind me but it is difficult since I have pain every time the tip of the affected finger touches a surface. read more