Misdiagnosed Fractures

Fractures or broken bones are usually associated with a fall or an accident. Symptoms of a fracture include localised pain, swelling, bleeding, dislocation, a weak pulse below the fracture, numbness or paralysis.

In the majority of cases, diagnosing a fracture is a simple and straightforward procedure for a hospital using x-rays. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis of fractures and delays in their treatment do occur, as does the provision of incorrect or inadequate treatment.

Fractures should be diagnosed and treated in an accident and emergency (A&E) department, which have a four-hour target for treating each patient. The aim of treatment is to help the bone to recover. Treatment options include setting the limb in plaster or pinning the bones back in place, which requires surgery.

Late or misdiagnosis of a fracture or break could occur if an X-ray has been taken from the wrong angle or if the hospital fails to carry out X-rays and the fracture is misdiagnosed as a sprain. Diagnosis should always involve both a physical and an X-ray examination. A hospital’s late or inaccurate diagnosis may, in some cases, lead to surgery (that should have been avoided) or long-term disability.

If no obvious trauma is present, other risk factors for broken bones such as undiagnosed osteoporosis, or other underlying diseases and even high impact sports (for example, long distance running) can be overlooked by a hospital or GP and lead to an inaccurate diagnosis of a fracture or break.

If hospital staff are under pressure, then referral for follow-up treatment for the fracture at a fracture clinic or relevant physiotherapy may also be overlooked.

If any of the above applies to you and you feel that you may have a potential claim and want to discuss it further, please complete a claim form or request a call back and our in-house registered nurse will be in contact to provide free advice.