The client fell down the stairs at home and was taken to the A&E Department, where she was x-rayed. She was diagnosed with fractures to her left wrist and right thumb. The wrist was manipulated and plastered in a back slab and her thumb on the right hand plastered. Several weeks later the client attended the outpatient fracture clinic when x-rays were taken which showed a gradual deterioration, with the fracture starting to displace. No further treatment was recommended. The plaster on the right hand was removed and a few weeks later the left plaster was removed. X-rays were taken and she re-attended several months later when she was advised her recovery was reasonable and discharged.
She attended physiotherapy for 4 weeks but unfortunately her condition did not improve with the wrist remaining painful, stiff, and weak. She was seen by a Rheumatologist who referred her for physiotherapy and later x-rays were taken. She was advised by the physiotherapist that she was unable to assist due to the position of her wrist. She was referred to an Orthopaedic Consultant who advised that the wrist was displaced and that she would need further surgery, which would involve fusing and plating.
The opposing party admitted negligence in failing to recognise that the fracture was displaced at the outset and indeed, on all the follow-up appointments. The expert advised that remedial action should have been taken in the form of manipulation and stabilisation by insertion of a k-wire. If this had been carried out, the wrist would have healed normally. As a result of the failure to treat the displacement in a timely manner, the client is left with a painful weak wrist but decided not to proceed with the wrist fusion for the time being. The case settled and the client received compensation.