A routine surgical procedure at a Thessaloniki hospital has left a 20-year-old gymnast with severe third-degree burns on her feet — an incident she describes as a life-altering nightmare. The young woman underwent cyst removal surgery at the ‘Agios Pavlos’ Hospital, but emerged from the operating room with extensive burns covering approximately 7% of her body. She now struggles to walk and faces an uncertain recovery timeline.
What Went Wrong?
According to the patient’s account reported by Star.gr, the burns occurred during the operation when a liquid applied to the surgical site reportedly flowed down toward her feet. She says she immediately felt intense burning and alerted the surgeon, who allegedly dismissed her pain as normal. Moments later, she says she smelled burning fabric and saw the bedsheet charred beneath her. Initially told she had only first-degree burns and would recover within ten days, she was instead transferred the following day to the ‘Papanikolaou’ Hospital — where doctors diagnosed third-degree burns requiring specialized care.
Unclear Cause, Ongoing Investigation
The patient says hospital staff never explained how the burns occurred. Her surgeon reportedly claimed he followed standard protocol and did nothing different from what he does with other patients. She now faces repeated hospital visits for monitoring and rehabilitation, with no clear indication of when — or if — she will be able to return to work as a gymnastics instructor.
Hospital Launches Formal Inquiry
In response to the serious allegations, the management of ‘Agios Pavlos’ Hospital announced it has ordered an Official Administrative Inquiry (OAE) to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether procedural failures or lapses in patient safety contributed to the injury.