In June this year (2024) I slipped on a wet pavement in Enniskillen, immediately felt severe pain in my left upper arm and shoulder and ( as an retired nurse ) knew that the pain was so severe that I must have either dislocated my shoulder or fractured my humerus. A member of the public got me into his car and drove me to SWAH Emergency Department where two paramedics assisted me out of the car and into a wheelchair. I was given very prompt attention, history taken by a nurse who ascertained that I hadn't had a head injury etc, and immediately I was immediately seen by a doctor and given pain relief ( I think penthrox ). This helped with pain but meant that I was a bit ' out of it' so not communicating sensibly. I had been then joined by my niece, a registered nurse ,who was with me throughout. The pain in my shoulder was so severe at this point that I was unaware of pain elsewhere. I had an Xray and diagnosed with a fractured humerus, put in a low sling , over my clothes, and discharged with no advice other than I'd be seen in fracture clinic.
It was two weeks before I was seen in fracture clinic during which time I was , despite the agonising pain , taking my arm out of the sling for showering and dressing . When I eventually got to fracture clinic I was told that I had a bad fracture , was in the wrong type of sling and should not have been using my arm as I had been since the injury. I was put into a collar and cuff sling and, at that point was aware that my left wrist ( same side) was painful. I had actually left fracture clinic when I realised how uncomfortable it was and went back to fracture clinic and mentioned it to a nurse ,who assumed it was the sling hurting me ,and adjusted it slightly. I must emphasise that I do not hold the staff in fracture clinic in any way responsible as they were dealing with what had been referred to them from ED.
For eight weeks, until allowed out of the sling I tolerated the pain in my wrist thinking it was just an extension of the shoulder pain but, when out of the sling was immediately aware of my lack of movement in my hand and my wrist being an abnormal shape. I showed it to the doctor in fracture clinic, who immediately suspected my wrist had also been fractured and this was confirmed by Xray. I now have an ongoing problem with my left hand, lack of movement and strength and, since September have been having to attend hand therapy sessions. This is helping but it's slow progress and, as a full time carer for my unwell husband, it's made life difficult - the disability and having to attend the hospital every week although I am very appreciative of the treatment I'm getting from the hand therapist.
As someone who has spent her entire nursing career in the NHS I don't want to make a formal complaint as I'm aware that mostly clinicians do their very best but I would like this to be reflected upon in order for something like this to be avoided in future. When I was admitted I had severe pain in my left arm, I had full movement and no pain in my other limbs or back and no head injury so it was just my left arm that was injured so it was unfortunate that the wrist injury was missed.
I'd appreciate some feedback from this if possible.
"Missed fracture of radius and ulna"
About: South West Acute Hospital / Emergency Care and Medicine Services South West Acute Hospital Emergency Care and Medicine Services Enniskillen BT74 6DN South West Acute Hospital / Outpatient clinics South West Acute Hospital Outpatient clinics Enniskillen BT74 6DN
Posted by walking wounded (as ),
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