A recent court filing has thrust a local hospital and its medical staff into the spotlight, with allegations of severe negligence leading to life-altering consequences for a patient. The complaint was filed by Eric Elliott in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on June 18, 2024, targeting Michelle Rider, D.O., St. Clair Medical Group Emergency Medicine, and St. Clair Hospital.
According to the detailed complaint, Eric Elliott accuses Dr. Michelle Rider and her affiliated institutions of failing to provide urgent and appropriate medical care after he sustained a tibial plateau fracture on August 26, 2023. The incident began when Elliott stumbled in a parking lot, injuring his left leg. Despite experiencing significant pain and swelling immediately below his knee, Elliott's initial visit to St. Clair Hospital's Emergency Department did not result in the necessary diagnosis or treatment.
The complaint narrates that upon arrival at the emergency department early on August 27, 2023, Dr. Ronald Aiello examined Elliott and identified a tibial plateau fracture through an X-ray. Following consultation with orthopedic doctor Shaka Walker over the phone, Elliott was discharged with a knee immobilizer and crutches but without any immediate intervention for what would later be diagnosed as acute compartment syndrome—a condition requiring prompt surgical attention.
Elliott’s condition worsened overnight and into the next day. He made multiple calls to the hospital seeking advice due to escalating pain and swelling but was advised against returning until his scheduled orthopedic appointment on August 28. When he finally returned to the emergency department early that morning under Dr. Rider’s care, crucial assessments were reportedly neglected.
Dr. Rider is accused of failing to perform essential evaluations such as compartment pressure monitoring or checking for pain with passive stretch—key indicators for diagnosing acute compartment syndrome. Instead, she adjusted Elliott’s knee immobilizer without ruling out this critical condition, significantly increasing intercompartment pressures according to the complaint.
Elliott remained on-site until he could see Dr. Walker later that morning when his symptoms had escalated dramatically. Dr. Walker quickly identified signs of acute compartment syndrome and performed an emergent fasciotomy—the first of several surgeries aimed at relieving pressure within muscle compartments and addressing tissue damage.
The plaintiff asserts that these delays led to permanent functional impairment in his left leg, specifically foot drop—a debilitating condition where one cannot lift the front part of their foot due to nerve damage.
Eric Elliott seeks damages exceeding the jurisdictional limits set by the Board of Arbitrators for Allegheny County Court in this professional liability action against all named defendants: Michelle Rider, D.O., St. Clair Medical Group Emergency Medicine, and St. Clair Hospital.
Representing Eric Elliott are attorneys Victor H. Pribanic and Philip C. Chapman from Pribanic & Pribanic L.L.C., while no specific defense counsel is mentioned in this document.