Woman Sues Northern Kentucky Nursing Home, Claims Negligence Led to Leg Amputation from Pressure Ulcer
Summary: Brenda Roberts, a 75-year-old from Williamstown, Kentucky, filed a negligence lawsuit on December 4, 2025, against Cold Spring Transitional Care Center, alleging staff failed to follow her orthopedic surgeon’s orders to remove her walking boot when lying down or seated after a heel fracture. This oversight allegedly caused prolonged pressure, resulting in a stage-4 pressure ulcer that necessitated below-knee amputation. Roberts’ attorney, Matthew Mooney, called the incident “stunning,” emphasizing the simplicity of the protocol and the facility’s familiarity with boot-wearing patients. The center has not been served and cited HIPAA in declining comment, but stated it takes patient concerns seriously. The case highlights critical gaps in nursing home wound care protocols for pressure offloading.
Key Highlights:
- Incident: December 2024 heel fracture; surgeon prescribed boot for walking only, to be removed at rest — staff did not comply.
- Progression: Weeks of continuous wear led to undetected pressure buildup; follow-up revealed stage-4 ulcer (full-thickness loss to muscle/tendon).
- Outcome: Failed to save foot; below-knee amputation; now in PT learning prosthetic use, dependent on others for driving.
- Quote: Roberts: “I felt neglected there, really. I didn’t have anyone really coming to look at my foot.”
- Quote: Mooney: “I was pretty stunned to hear something as simple as an ankle fracture transitioned into something as extreme as an amputation below the knee.”
- Broader: Exposes risks in rehab settings; calls for rigorous staff training on device management and routine inspections.
Keywords: pressure ulcer, nursing home negligence, walking boot, stage-4 ulcer, amputation, Brenda Roberts, Matthew Mooney