A 27-year-old woman suddenly develops intense pain in the lower right side of her abdomen while at work. The pain is so severe that she becomes nauseated and begins vomiting. Concerned that it might be appendicitis, she goes to the emergency department.
After several hours of evaluation, she is told the pain is probably caused by an ovarian cyst. She receives pain medication, is advised to rest, and is discharged home.
The next morning, her pain is even worse.
She returns to the hospital, where imaging and emergency surgery reveal ovarian torsion. By the time the surgeon reaches the operating room, the ovary has lost its blood supply and can no longer be saved.
For many women, the most difficult part of this diagnosis is learning that earlier treatment might have preserved the ovary and protected their future fertility.
At Bounds Law Group, we represent women throughout Florida who have suffered preventable injuries because serious medical conditions were not recognized in time. Delayed diagnosis of ovarian torsion is one of the gynecologic emergencies we frequently investigate because prompt surgery often makes all the difference.
Contact us today through our free case evaluation form or call 877-644-5122.
A Twisted Ovary Can Lose Its Blood Supply Within Hours
Ovarian torsion occurs when an ovary twists around the ligaments that support it.
As the ovary rotates, the blood vessels supplying it become compressed.
Initially, blood entering the ovary becomes restricted.
As the twisting continues, blood flow may stop altogether.
Without oxygen, ovarian tissue begins to die.
Unlike many gynecological conditions that can be treated with medication, ovarian torsion usually requires emergency surgery.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), ovarian torsion is a surgical emergency because delayed treatment may result in loss of the ovary and reduced reproductive potential.
Patient information is available here:
https://www.acog.org/womens-health
The Pain Usually Begins Suddenly
Women often describe ovarian torsion as one of the worst pains they have ever experienced.
Symptoms frequently include:
- Sudden pelvic pain
- Pain on one side of the abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lower abdominal tenderness
- Pain that comes and goes as the ovary twists and untwists
- Fever in more advanced cases
The pain may begin during exercise, while sleeping, or during completely normal daily activities.
Some women experience intermittent episodes over several days if the ovary partially untwists before rotating again.
That temporary improvement can create the false impression that the condition is resolving.
Ovarian Cysts Can Increase the Risk
Although ovarian torsion may occur without warning, certain conditions make it more likely.
These include:
- Large ovarian cysts
- Benign ovarian masses
- Fertility treatments
- Pregnancy
- Prior pelvic surgery
- Elongated ovarian ligaments
Women undergoing fertility treatment may be particularly vulnerable because enlarged ovaries are more likely to twist.
Even so, torsion can occur in women with otherwise healthy ovaries.
Healthcare providers must evaluate the patient's symptoms rather than relying solely on whether obvious risk factors are present.
Why the Diagnosis Is Frequently Missed
Pelvic pain has many possible causes.
Women with ovarian torsion are commonly evaluated for:
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
- Appendicitis
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infection
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Gastroenteritis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Menstrual cramps
Each of these conditions may cause severe abdominal pain.
The challenge is recognizing when ovarian torsion should remain on the list of possible diagnoses.
Unfortunately, because ovarian torsion is relatively uncommon, providers may initially focus on more common explanations.
Ultrasound Is an Important Tool—But It Doesn't Tell the Entire Story
When ovarian torsion is suspected, physicians frequently order a pelvic ultrasound with Doppler imaging.
Evaluation may include:
- Pelvic examination
- Pregnancy testing
- Blood work
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Doppler blood flow studies
- Gynecologic consultation
While Doppler ultrasound can provide valuable information about blood flow to the ovary, it is not perfect.
In some patients, blood flow appears partially preserved despite torsion because the ovary receives blood from more than one source.
For that reason, physicians must consider the patient's symptoms, examination findings, and imaging together rather than relying upon one study alone.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) recognizes ultrasound as the primary imaging study for evaluating acute pelvic pain and suspected ovarian torsion.
More information is available at:
Surgery Often Determines Whether the Ovary Can Be Saved
The definitive treatment for ovarian torsion is surgery.
During the procedure, the surgeon attempts to untwist the ovary and restore normal blood flow.
If the tissue remains healthy, the ovary can often be preserved.
If blood flow has been interrupted for too long, however, the tissue may become nonviable, requiring removal of the ovary and sometimes the fallopian tube.
The opportunity to preserve fertility often depends on how quickly surgery occurs after symptoms begin.
The Effects Can Last Long After Recovery
Losing an ovary affects every woman differently.
Many women continue to conceive naturally with one healthy ovary.
Others experience:
- Reduced fertility
- Hormonal concerns
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety during future pregnancies
- Fear of recurrence
For younger women who hope to have children, the emotional consequences may be just as significant as the physical ones.
The knowledge that the ovary might have been saved through earlier diagnosis can be especially difficult to accept.
What Florida's Standard of Care Requires
Healthcare providers evaluate many women with pelvic pain every day.
Most do not have ovarian torsion.
However, Florida healthcare providers are expected to recognize when a patient's symptoms reasonably suggest a gynecologic emergency requiring prompt evaluation.
Medical malpractice claims in Florida are governed by Chapter 766 of the Florida Statutes, which establishes the legal standards applicable to healthcare negligence claims.
The statute is available here:
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0766/0766.html
Depending upon the patient's presentation, appropriate care may include obtaining a detailed medical history, performing a pelvic examination, ordering appropriate imaging, consulting a gynecologist without unnecessary delay, and arranging emergency surgery when ovarian torsion is strongly suspected.
Whether the standard of care was breached depends upon the facts of each individual case and requires review by qualified medical experts.
Looking Back Often Reveals a Narrow Window for Treatment
When our attorneys investigate delayed ovarian torsion cases, we focus on what happened during the patient's first medical evaluation.
Questions often include:
- How long had the pain been present?
- Was the pain sudden or gradual?
- Was nausea or vomiting documented?
- Was ultrasound performed promptly?
- Were Doppler findings interpreted appropriately?
- Was a gynecologist consulted?
- Could surgery have occurred sooner?
To answer these questions, we carefully review:
- Emergency department records
- Urgent care records
- Primary care records
- Ultrasound images and reports
- Laboratory studies
- Gynecology consultation notes
- Operative reports
- Pathology reports
- Hospital records
Medical experts determine whether earlier diagnosis and surgical intervention would likely have preserved the ovary and prevented permanent injury.
A Single Day Can Change a Woman's Future
Many women who lose an ovary describe the experience as far more than a surgical complication.
It may affect future family planning, emotional well-being, and confidence in the healthcare system.
Those who require emergency surgery often face unanswered questions about whether the outcome could have been different if their symptoms had been recognized sooner.
When fertility becomes part of the discussion, the emotional impact can last for years.
How Bounds Law Group Investigates Delayed Ovarian Torsion Cases
Cases involving ovarian torsion require collaboration with experts in emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, reproductive endocrinology, and nursing.
At Bounds Law Group, we carefully review medical records, imaging studies, physician documentation, consultation timelines, and surgical findings to determine whether healthcare providers missed opportunities to diagnose and treat ovarian torsion before permanent injury occurred.
If you or someone you love lost an ovary or suffered other serious complications because ovarian torsion was not diagnosed or treated promptly, you may have legal rights under Florida law.
Contact Bounds Law Group for a confidential, free consultation. We work with experienced medical experts to determine whether earlier diagnosis and emergency surgery could have preserved ovarian function and prevented unnecessary harm. When preventable medical negligence changes lives, we are committed to helping our clients pursue accountability and the compensation they deserve.
Contact us today through our free case evaluation form or call 877-644-5122.