A radiologist has escaped a $5 million negligence payout, despite admitting he missed a teen’s life-changing congenital spinal deformity.

The case heard by the NSW Supreme Court last week found in favour of the doctor, saying it was unlikely the woman’s eventual surgery and chronic pain syndrome could have been avoided by earlier diagnosis of her dysplastic spondylolysis (pars defect).

However, if the woman had been able to prove the doctor’s negligence had caused her harm, the damages bill would have totalled $5.3 million, including $467,000 for medical marijuana, the court said.

Hailee Williams alleged her condition could have been managed conservatively and would not have deteriorated if the radiologist had spotted the pars defect on an X-ray taken in 2012.