A Florida court has rejected a surgical patient's claim that the placement of an IV line caused the complex regional pain syndrome that disabled her right arm.

In January 2008, Jeanne Lesuer underwent surgery at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., to remove spinal fusion hardware that had been implanted the previous year. After the procedure, she complained of discomfort from the IV catheter that had been in the back of her right hand for 22 hours, and it was removed.

For 3 days after the catheter's removal, Ms. Lesuer suffered swelling in her right upper arm. According to court records, the swelling caused compartment syndrome, which required her to undergo fasciotomy to release the pressure, which resulted in a surgical site infection. She was then diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and required surgical and therapeutical treatment.

Ms. Lesuer sued Holmes for medical malpractice, claiming that the IV was misplaced, letting fluids infiltrate surrounding tissues and trigger her complications.

The hospital, however, denied liability, arguing through its attorneys and expert witnesses that IV site pain is not always caused by infiltration or extravasation, and that complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy is an unpredictable condition whose causes are not entirely understood.

The Brevard County, Fla., court entered its verdict in favor of the hospital on January 27, 2012.

Attorneys for Ms. Lesuer and at Holmes Regional Medical Center did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

David Bernard