To think this is an obvious fracture? Pic

[XRay72]

??? Surely it's quite obvious???

[ScarletOverkill]

Is that the clavicle?
I can't see a break

[XRay72]

Top of the humerus

[8FencingWire]

Neck of humerus, you mean?

[WellErrr]

Yes, fairly obvious!

Why?

[8FencingWire]

I'm not a radiographer.
Why do you ask?

[Hassled]

I don't see a break but then I'm not a medic and don't know what I'm looking at.
What's the issue? Do you feel you were given incorrect information at a hospital?

[HardleyWorthit]

Why op?

[XRay72]

Neck, top, whatever I'm not a HCP.

Because they missed it in a and e and I saw it and questioned they said was fine then got a call later to say it was double checked and I needed a fracture clinic appointment and then when I was seen they were really surprised it hasn't been spotted

[beetroot2]

Ok, so doctors are human too. It was missed then picked up.

[8FencingWire]

I wasn't correcting you, we posted at the same time.

[HardleyWorthit]

That's why they double check. And they called you back.

[8FencingWire]

To err is human, OP. It was picked up.
I hope you're ok now.

[XRay72]

I know and I'm grateful I was just a bit annoyed as when I pointed it out, the look I got was horrendous! Thank you, still in pain but doing good

[DeepFriedCamembert]

Yes, very obvious fracture. I'd write a letter to ensure the individual who missed it gets some additional training or support

[CesareBorgiasUnicornMask]

It took me a couple of minutes to find but I'm only a med student and shit at xrays. Can see how somebody very tired/ busy might have missed it though. Are you OK?

[lougle]

No, that's obvious

[Wombat79]

fractured greater tuberosity possibly extending into the neck of humerus (exposure not great) - very clear to me as a physio. It might be the angle of the x-ray but the shoulder looks like it might also have some arthritis as the joint space is very narrow.

[welshweasel]

When I was an A&E doc all missed fractures would be reported back to the doctor who missed it and education provided. It's the only way you learn. I remember one of my colleagues (who is now an orthopaedic consultant) missing a hip fracture, he was mortified the following day. Hope you heal soon.

[OurBlanche]

I think some may be looking at the distal end of the clavicle ... that is not fractured, that's 2 separate bones

The possible fracture is lower... and given the exposure I'm not sure it is a fracture. But I would echo Wombat's query about the joint space... that does look narrow!

Ask lots of questions when you go back, XRay... good luck

[brotherhoodofspam]

Yes, fairly obvious (and that's to someone who hasn't routinely looked at x-ray films for years), but as POs said that's why most A&E department have some sort of back up checking system which clearly worked in this case.

[ManonLescaut]

That's nothing, a friend of mine fractured 3 vertebrae in her neck & that was missed by A&E. She had to go back and insist.

[Genvonklinkerhoffen]

Welsh (sorry to hijack op) do Drs and paramedics (and nurses etc) have a formal post trauma (ie death of patient etc) debrief to prevent PTSD development in later life? I know the armed forces do, just writing a brief for someone and didn't know how it worked for you.

Sorry.

Op, hope you heal soon, will it just be a sling? Or a cast etc? What did you do btw?

[XRay72]

I'm glad you think it's nothing but it bloody hurt!

[justkeeponsmiling]

Another ecample of a hard-to-spot fracture

[justkeeponsmiling]

Sorry couldn't resist