It is absolutely essential a third degree tear is diagnosed and repaired soon after the delivery. This will make the chance of a full recovery much more favourable and will help to prevent further complications.
Diagnosing a third degree tear
All women who give birth vaginally must have a genital and digital rectal examination soon after the delivery. This is the only way to check whether or not a perineal tear has occurred, and if so, how extensive the damage is.
The examination can be performed by either a midwife or a doctor. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the medical practitioner carrying out the examination should:
- Ask a patient for her consent to complete the examination, and explain what is going to happen and why
- Check that a patient is comfortable and has sufficient pain relief in place
- Visually assess the extent of perineal trauma
- Carry out a vaginal and digital rectal examination to assess whether there has been any damage to the perineal muscles, and external or internal anal sphincter.
With these steps, a reasonably competent medical practitioner should be able to detect a third degree tear. If there is any doubt, advice should be sought from a senior doctor, as it is vital a patient does not leave hospital with a missed third degree tear.
Wrongly diagnosed and missed third degree tears
Unfortunately there are occasions when a third degree tear is missed altogether. This may happen because an examination is not carried out after the delivery. Or it may be that an examination was completed, but the medical practitioner simply failed to spot the injury.
Similarly, there are times when a third degree tear is under-diagnosed. This means that a perineal tear has been identified but the medical practitioner has not made the correct diagnosis, instead believing the injury to be a first or second degree tear.
Consequences of a missed or wrongly diagnosed third degree tear
Both situations are very troubling because a patient will not have had the treatment for a third degree tear, nor will she even be aware that she has such an injury. She will subsequently develop complications of an upsetting nature, all at a time when she is trying to care for her newborn child.
If you have suffered problems because of a missed or wrongly diagnosed third degree tear, you will be the innocent victim of medical negligence. You may therefore be able to pursue compensation for the damage you have been caused.
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If you, or your family member, has suffered a birth injury tear, please call us now for free, no obligation advice on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile click to call 01275 334030) or complete our Free Online Enquiry.