Broken Bone & Missed Fracture Misdiagnosis Claims

If your healthcare team has missed or misdiagnosed a bone fracture and you have experienced unnecessary harm as a result of their actions, you could be entitled to compensation. 

SDS Solicitors have extensive experience in supporting clients through the process of claiming compensation when the medical care they have received is below the expected standards.

A bone fracture is a bone that has broken or cracked in some way. While bones can be partially or entirely fractured, in most cases, the healing process will be quite straightforward. 

Doctors will likely recommend a period of rest for the affected area, and may prescribe some anti-inflammatory medication, pain relief, and some support such as a brace or cast. 

If the fracture is missed for any reason and you do not receive the correct treatment there could be serious consequences.

Proper alignment and immobilisation of the broken bone is crucial for proper healing. Failure to receive appropriate treatment can lead to severe infection and permanent disfigurement, as well as long-term issues with joint mobility.

Despite how often bone fractures occur, mistakes do still happen.

To get tailored advice for the unique circumstances of your missed fracture, get in touch with one of our expert medical negligence solicitors today.

How do missed fractures occur?

There are several ways that doctors and medical professionals may miss a bone fracture.

For example, fractures can be mistaken for a less-severe injury such as a sprain or a strain. This might mean the patient is not referred for an x-ray, and the true nature of the injury is missed.

While patients not being referred for an x-ray can be deemed medically negligent in some instances; doctors can sometimes misinterpret an x-ray leading to further complications.  The angle that the x-ray is taken from will determine how much visibility the doctor has.  When taken from the wrong angle, a patient may seem perfectly fine, even when they may be suffering with a severe bone fracture.

Time pressures placed on medical staff can compound this issue even further.

If you believe that the treatment you received for a bone fracture was below the expected standards of care, and that avoidable mistakes were made that caused unnecessary pain and suffering, talk to SDS Solicitors today about the steps you can take to redress the balance.

Why choose SDS Solicitors?

The process of seeking out compensation for medical negligence can be a daunting one, but our team will support you throughout the process.  If mistakes were made, pursuing a claim can not only help with the financial burden of what has happened to you, but it can also go some way towards preventing the same thing happening to someone else.

When you make a claim with the support of a legal team with decades of experience in advocating for victims of medical negligence across England and Wales, you give yourself the best possible chance for making a successful claim.

Of course, no amount of compensation could ever make up for what has happened but claiming compensation can give you the financial freedom you need to take your next steps. 

To find out whether you could have a claim, how much you might be entitled to and how to go through the process, contact one of our experts today by calling the number at the top of this page or filling out our contact form. A member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

What are the consequences of a missed fracture?

Unfortunately, whether a missed fracture is caused by medical negligence or an error that could not be helped, consequences can be serious.

A misdiagnosis of any kind means that a patient receives incorrect treatment for a condition they do not have while their actual condition is left to worsen.

In some cases, the delay in a correct diagnosis can mean that the patient puts pressure on the unknown fracture, thereby making it worse and harder to treat in the future.

Potential side effects of a missed fracture include swelling, blood loss and a shortage of blood supply. In the worst cases, the patient could also become permanently disabled or could face an infection of the bone. This could lead to gangrene and the patient may need an amputation. 

As the potential consequences of a missed fracture are so severe, it is essential that medical staff know exactly which signs to look out for. 

If you have suffered as a result of a missed fracture, you may have been the victim of medical negligence and could be entitled to compensation. 

When is a missed fracture considered medical negligence?

It is important to note that not all cases where a patient’s fracture was missed will be classed as medical negligence.

If your fracture was initially missed (and misdiagnosed) by your healthcare team, but they followed the correct procedures and acted appropriately with the information at their disposal, then this may not be considered negligent.

If your healthcare team missed clear signs of a fracture because they failed to properly observe you or follow the correct procedures, and you suffered harm as a result (whether physical, psychological or a loss of earnings), our expert team will be able to help you identify those responsible and build a case for compensation,

For example, scaphoid fractures can often be misdiagnosed. 

The scaphoid is a small bone located near the thumb in the wrist. It is one of the eight bones in the wrist that make up the carpal bones. Scaphoid fractures are typically the result of a fall onto an outstretched hand, and they can be difficult to diagnose because their symptoms can mimic those of other wrist injuries.

Occasionally, medical professionals may misdiagnose a scaphoid bone fracture as a sprain. This can have a significant impact on the patient's recovery, as it frequently results in the patient receiving the incorrect treatment for their injury, thereby worsening their condition.

Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis of a scaphoid injury can have severe consequences. If you or a loved one have suffered - whether financially, physically, or emotionally - as a result of delayed treatment or misdiagnosis, you may have been the victim of negligence and may be eligible for compensation.

No one should suffer from poor medical care. With the right legal team by your side, you may be able to make a claim for compensation that reflects the harm that has been done and provides you with the financial support you are entitled to.

I was diagnosed with arthritis after doctors missed my fracture. Is this medical negligence?

Arthritis is a common condition affecting people of all ages and it is characterised by joint pain, inflammation, skin redness, weakness, and muscle wasting.

Unfortunately, while there are treatments that can slow the progression of arthritis, there is no cure for the condition.

In rare cases, a missed bone fracture can potentially lead to the patient developing arthritis.

Arthritis is a serious condition that has a profound impact on a patient’s life, and on the lives of their loved ones. If you, or someone close to you, have been diagnosed with arthritis which you believe could be caused by errors in a previous bone fracture diagnosis, you could be entitled to compensation. 

And we’re here to help. Seeking out the compensation that you deserve can be a stress-free process with the right solicitor on your side.

I was diagnosed with a blood clot after doctors missed my fracture. Can I make a claim?

Among the symptoms of a blood clot are:

• Throbbing pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in one of your legs or arms
• A sudden shortness of breath, chest pain (which may be worse when you inhale), and a cough or bloody cough

To make matters worse, if a blood clot is not treated quickly, it could be fatal. 

We trust our healthcare providers to give us professional support for our health when we need it most. Nobody should have to experience a condition like blood clots because their healthcare team did not give them the level of treatment we all deserve. 

The good news is that there is help available.

If you have suffered as a result of a missed fracture, you may have been the victim of medical negligence and could be entitled to compensation. 

Contact the experienced team of medical negligence solicitors at SDS Solicitors today.  We offer a free initial consultation over the phone which will help you understand your options.

What are my next steps?

In almost 80% of instances where patients experience negligent treatment in relation to a bone fracture in the UK, it happened because the patient’s x-ray was interpreted incorrectly.

Meanwhile, nearly 20% of these cases happened because the medical team involved in handling the patient’s case failed to perform an x-ray altogether. 

Either way, any harm that you have experienced (more specifically, harm that could have been avoided had your healthcare team followed the correct procedures) could be a result of medical negligence. 

There is only one way to find out for sure. By getting in touch with us, you can get one-on-one expert legal advice from a solicitor with years’ of experience in advocating for clients across England and Wales - many of whom have been let down by their doctors and have been able to receive the compensation they rightly deserve as a result. 

To find out if you could be one of them (including the likelihood of whether you might have a claim, how much you could be entitled to and support through the process on a no-win no-fee basis) get in touch with one of our experts today. 

Contact Us

We are passionate about helping clients to seek appropriate justice and recompense, and our track record speaks for itself.

We work with clients across England and Wales, and we can offer you an initial consultation and a no win, no fee service if we think that you have good grounds for a case.

Our experienced Missed Fracture Compensation Solicitors act regularly for clients across Greater Manchester including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham, and Whitefield.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited personal injury law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service.

With Sheldon Davidson Solicitors in Manchester, you can be confident that your misdiagnois claim is in safe hands.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.​​​​​​