I was hit by a moving car’s wing mirror. Have I broken something?

[HaveIBrokenWrist]

So on Monday I was hit by a car.. yes I know that sounds ridiculous, you really couldn’t make this up, but please read on.

I was walking along the pavement, just going about my business, when I was hit in the arm/wrist by a car’s wing mirror. I can only guess the car was travelling at 20-30mph and obviously far far too close to the pavement. There was a loud bang. I was obviously too shocked to take a pic of the car or anything. The car didn’t stop.

Understandably it really really bloody hurt. I managed to get to a shop within a few mins so got frozen peas on it but didn’t think I needed to get to a hospital or anything.

The next day I went to my local minor injuries unit where I got an X-ray via a nurse (there were no doctors on shift). The nurse said she couldn’t see any evidence of broken bones and showed me the x Ray image to confirm but short of seeing a bone flying around on the screen I wouldn’t have been able to pick out a fracture (I’ve got no medical training of any sort)

what I’m now wondering is whether there could be a broken bone in there after all? I’m still in quite a lot of pain 5 days on. I can move my wrist normally and I can’t see any obvious swelling or deformity but it bloody hurts still. Is it worth going back to minor injuries or elsewhere to have it checked over again??

was the wing mirror hanging off or in the road? If so then you may have broken it.

Hahaha sorry but that comment has made me chuckle 😂 the wing mirror I seem to remember was folded in or whatever the correct term is! I’m more worried about my arm/wrist 😂

I think I’d go to a and E. You have had an accident and I think you need a doctor to look at the X-ray.

Usually x rays are reviewed by a radiologist either the next day or the next monday.

even if an a&e consultant has seen it, they are always reviewed as radiologists can spot things dr’s and nurses can’t.

chances are if you had broken it you’d have had a phone call to bring you back in.

you have full movement, no swelling or any other fracture indications. I can’t see much point going back.

rest, ice, heat. If you can afford it and it still hurts in a week or so I’d maybe see a physio.

Oh and fwiw I was hit by a wing mirror on the arm years ago. It bloody hurts! I was on a bike and was lucky not so be thrown off. they drove off as well.

No lasting damage, although it was painful for ages.

The X-ray would have gone on to be reviewed by a doctor and you would have heard back if there was a problem, the nurses role in MIU is just to 'red dot' anything obvious and refer straight to ED or fracture clinics.

If you are moving it well and the X-ray is all clear then rest add pain killers.

Did you report they incident to the police, there may be CCTV footage.

Exactly this.

I fell on my wrist roller skating (don't do this if you aren't a child!!). I nearly passed out with the pain and honestly thought I'd broken it. Turns out it was just a nasty sprain. It hurt for months.

Bruises and sprains can be painful for weeks. Don’t be surprised if it turns some rather interesting colours.

I think I’d go to a and E. You have had an accident and I think you need a doctor to look at the X-ray

you’d really go and sit in a&e for 6-12 hours for a 5 day old injury that has already been assessed by a medical professional, x-rayed, reviewed by the radiologist, has no swelling, bruising, can be moved through the full range of movement with no issue?

no wonder the waits in a&e are so long.

most junior docs in a&e are only there on a 6 month rotation anyway. In our a&e straightforward fractures don’t see a doc, a nurse asseses, sends for x ray, radiologist checks. Strapping and sent to fracture clinic to see an orthopod if there is a fracture. It’s a much better system, wait is vastly reduced, docs are freed up for medical and more complicated issues, and you are treated in clinic by a more appropriate specialist.

Some smaller fractures can be very difficult to see on an X-ray and can be quite easily missed. I had this a few years back. Initial fracture showed dislocation but no fractures in the affected arm. Follow up X-ray a week or so later as it was still very painful with horrendous bruising found two fractures - one near elbow and one in my finger. Both missed on the initial x-rays. Fortunately due to the injury I'd already been treated and a cast out on, so treatment was the same regardless,

Dd had similar when younger - x-ray one was unclear, second one x-ray a few days later when no improvement showed a fracture in her foot. We could have avoided making it worse had we known initially, but these things happen.

Friend is a radiologist and says missed fractures is very common and she was the one who urged me to return both times.

Xrays are reviews by a radiologist, so the reviewing nurse/doctor isn't the only one who looks at it. If you've not heard anything by now, it won't have a break. It's all soft tissue and will take a couple of weeks to be normal again. After a week start gently movement exercises otherwise it will get stiff and painful.

I'd expect that to be painful for a couple of weeks, if not more frankly. Since it's been x-rayed I can't see any reason to attend A&E (or minor injuries even) at all so wouldn't follow that advice unless it becomes severely swollen or you have no range of movement.

I would however request a phone appointment with your GP, prescription pain relief or anti inflammatories might be of a benefit. As others have mentioned, it will be painful but try to maintain gentle movement when and where you can, obviously avoid any strain.

I would also report this to the police, it doesn't matter that you don't have the registration.

Sounds like terrible bad luck, hope you heal quickly OP.