The client was attempting to move a wardrobe down a set of stairs when she slipped and landed on her left foot and lower leg. She had swelling, bruising and was in pain.
She attended A&E and the doctor recommended anti-inflammatory medication and RICE – Rest, Ice, Compressions and Elevation. She was advised to return if her symptoms got worse. No x-rays were taken. Two weeks later, she attended her GP for a medical certificate, who advised she had sprained her left ankle. The pain and loss of movement continued, and she attended her GP once again. He considered it a soft tissue injury and advised that it would recover in time. She continued to have problems with her foot and returned to her GP for the third time complaining of ongoing pain.
Eventually, he referred her for x-rays. These confirmed a fracture of the patella navicular joint deep inside the foot. A CT scan revealed secondary degeneration as well as the old fracture. She was prescribed steroid injections which brought her temporary relief from pain, but her symptoms returned, and she was left with persistent pain in her left foot, limiting her mobility.
The failure to diagnose the fracture after the initial injury was found to be medical negligence due to the delay in referral/diagnosis. The claim was settled and compensation was secured.