What Should I Do if a Hospital Missed my Fracture?
When you have been involved in an accident, it can be a confusing time where you have to put a lot of trust in medical experts. When they miss a fractured bone, it can often have more serious consequences down the line. If you have suffered because of a hospital missing your fracture, our specialists can help you to get the compensation that you deserve.
What is a fractured bone?
A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. There are many different types of fractures that exist, and they are often caused by falls or injuries that put direct impact on the body. Overuse or repetitive motions can also cause stress fractures. Certain medical conditions can also weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis and some kinds of cancer – the medical term for these is a pathological fracture. The different types of fracture include:
- An avulsion fracture
- A comminuted fracture
- A compression, or crush, fracture
- A fracture dislocation
- A greenstick fracture
- A hairline fracture
- An impacted fracture
- An intra-articular fracture
- A longitudinal fracture
- An oblique fracture
- A pathological fracture
- A spiral fracture
- A stress fracture
- A transverse fracture
Some of the common symptoms of a fractures bone will include:
- Bleeding if it is an open fracture
- Inability to move the affected area
- Inability to put weight on the injured area
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Discoloured skin around the affected area
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Faintness or lightheadedness
The most common places that fractures are missed on x-rays were published by the British Medical Journal in the early 2000s. They include:
- Hand – 23%
- Wrist – 17%
- Ankle – 17%
- Foot – 10%
- Elbow – 8%
- Hip – 5%
- Knee – 4%
- Shoulder – 4%
- Other – 12%
The same study also showed that 80% of diagnostic errors in A&E were due to missed fractures, with 78% of them being missed on the X-rays.
Some of the most serious complications that can arise from a missed fracture include:
- Acute Compartment Syndrome
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Fat Embolism
- Avascular Necrosis
- Osteomyelitis
What should I do if my fracture has been missed?
If you have suffered from any of the issues mentioned above and your fracture was missed, then you will likely be able to claim compensation for your injury. If a family member has passed away due to complications from a missed fracture, you can also claim on their behalf. It is important that medical negligence is always addressed so that those who have suffered can be rightfully compensated for their suffering. Increased awareness of the errors that led to misdiagnosis can also attempt to ensure that they are not repeated and later affect other patients.
Read more on our clinical negligence compensation page.
Our specialist solicitors are experienced in constructing medical negligence cases and will be able to help you gain compensation for your missed fracture.
Get in touch today for our expert help and advice in putting together your missed fracture compensation claim.
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