30 August 2019

A fracture put simply is a broken bone. Fractures happen every day to people of all ages and can frequently be missed by medical staff, leading to further pain and suffering for the person affected.

True Solicitors LLP highlight the most commonly missed fractures, their symptoms and what legal action you can take if you have suffered due to medical negligence.

What is a missed fracture?

A broken bone that is left untreated and undiagnosed is a missed fracture. The impact of a missed fracture can vary, some people may not be aware that they have a broken bone whilst others may be left facing a lot of pain and discomfort.

Which types of fractures are most commonly missed?

Fractures can be missed when x-rayed or when the hospital has failed to x-ray the area of the body for any potential damage. The most common types of fractures affect:

• Hands
• Wrists
• Feet
• Ankles
• Elbows
• Hips
• Knees
• Shoulders

What are the main causes of missed fractures?

The main causes of missed fractures include:

• X-ray results being misinterpreted
• X-rays being taken from the angle making it difficult to spot a fracture
• A medical professional failing to recognise an injury as a fracture
• The fracture is misdiagnosed as a strain or sprain

What are the symptoms of a missed fracture?

Missed fractures can result in the following symptoms:

• Bruising and swelling
• Pain
• Numbness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Obvious deformity in the area of the fracture

What can happen if a fracture is left untreated?

A missed fracture can lead to further health complications such as:

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – DVT is a blood clot that develops within a deep vein in the body. If a broken bone causes damage to a vein, this can lead to a blood clot. If a piece of the blood clot breaks off into the bloodstream and blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs this can be potentially life-threatening.
• Fat Embolism – This is the release of a bone’s fat particles into the bloodstream after a fracture. Long bone and pelvic fractures commonly cause fat embolisms. Once the fat enters the bloodstream this can cause a blockage which can cut off the oxygen supply to the vital organs.
• Osteomyelitis – This is an infection that usually affects the long bones in the legs. Bacteria at the site of the fracture can lead to the infection, which if left untreated can lead to gangrene.
• Acute Compartment Syndrome – This is caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles, known as a muscle compartment. Acute compartment syndrome happens suddenly, after a fracture or severe injury. It restricts blood flow to the area which can lead to muscle and nerve damage.
• Misalignment – Misalignment can occur during the healing process, which may result in permanent disability such as arthritis and long-term joint stiffness.

What can I do if I have suffered due to missed fracture?

If you have suffered unnecessary injury or further illness due to a missed fracture, caused through the negligence of a medical professional or A&E department, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Compensation can be used to help you get your life back to normal as soon as possible. The following will be taken into consideration when calculating your claim amount:

• Past and future loss of earnings due to having to take time off work to recover from your injuries.
• Your ongoing care costs
• Medication and rehabilitation costs, such as prescription charges and physio appointments etc.
• Travel costs i.e. if you have had to pay for travel to and from medical appointments.

How do I make a claim for a missed fracture?

If you believe that you have grounds to make a claim for a missed fracture contact True Solicitor’s medical negligence team today. Our medical negligence solicitors will offer you a free, no obligation assessment of your case. If you instruct to handle your claim we will handle it on a No Win, No Fee basis, fighting to get you access to the financial compensation, rehabilitation and justice that you deserve.

Call us on 0344 854 7000 or fill in the online enquiry form below and we’ll call you back at a time that’s suitable for you.

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