Compensation of £16,000 recovered following delayed diagnosis and treatment of scaphoid fracture and failure to provide safety netting advice
22 July 2024
The specialist clinical negligence team at Curtis Law Solicitors has recovered £16,000 in compensation for a client who faced the delayed diagnosis and treatment of his scaphoid fracture.
Mr J fell off his mountain bike and injured his non-dominant left wrist. He attended A&E at the University Hospital of Coventry complaining of a swollen and painful wrist. An x-ray was performed which was interpreted to show a soft tissue injury. He was discharged home without any advice to return to A&E or to consult his GP if his wrist symptoms did not settle.
Approximately four weeks later, Mr J attended his GP surgery due to continuing wrist pain and swelling. The GP recommended physiotherapy which he was able to arrange via is workplace.
In the first physiotherapy session, the physiotherapist refused to provide treatment because they believed that the wrist was broken. Mr J was sent to A&E at the University Hospital of Coventry where an x-ray confirmed the diagnosis of a scaphoid fracture. He required surgery to the wrist involving a bone graft and a screw. He required one month off work and physiotherapy.
The claim was presented to the Trust and admissions of liability were secured. The Trust admitted that there was a failure to investigate the scaphoid fracture, a failure of diagnosis, and a failure to provide basic safety netting advice. The Trust admitted that these breaches of duty delayed diagnosis and treatment of the scaphoid fracture and caused him additional pain and suffering until his fixation surgery. The Trust admitted that the surgery would have been avoided with earlier diagnosis as the wrist would have been treated with a cast which would more likely than not have led to union.
Expert evidence was obtained from a Hand Surgeon confirming that there was no additional risk of late osteoarthritis above that which accompanies a scaphoid fracture which units after prompt treatment. This evidence enabled both the quantification of the claim value and the negotiation of the settlement of the claim.
Kenneth Lees, Head of Department said of the case: ‘This was an interesting case where there were clear breaches of duty which led to our client not receiving the necessary treatment in a timely manner. He endured a prolonged period of pain and suffering and he had a surgery that should not have been required. The mechanism of injury should have prompted careful analysis of the x-rays taken in A&E, with specific scaphoid views being captured. Further, with appropriate safety netting advice, he would have returned in time for cast immobilisation which would more likely than not have avoided the need for surgery’.
If you wish to discuss a potential clinical negligence claim with our specialist solicitors you can email us, use our online enquiry form, or call us for free on 0800 008 7450.