2.5 week wait for fracture clinic appointment after breaking ankle.

[Inastatus]

I’ve broken my ankle and had a back slab plaster cast put on on 3rd July. My first appointment with the fracture clinic is not for another week - 20/7. I’ll find out then if I’ll need an op or not. It just feels like such a delay in treatment, especially as I’m also on blood thinning injections. I rang the hospital and they said they can’t move it any closer. Is there anything else I can do or will I have to just suck it up and wait?

That doesn’t sound good op.
Not sure what you can do really, is there any way you could try and have a private scan or appointment?
I hope someone may give you better advice , it is only a week to wait , but it sounds frustrating
Hope your not in too much pain and don’t need an op.

When I broke my ankle they had a wait a couple of days for the swelling to go down a bit before they operated

are there things they are waiting for?

So you have fully broken your ankle sufficiently that an operation may be necessary yet it's not fully immobilised and only in a back slab?

Something seems very odd here one way or another because in the time you have indicated the bone will be knitting which makes an operation more difficult and if it's a bad break that may necessitate an op then I'd expect just a back slab to be extremely painful.

What's the full story?

@KateSixer - yes, I have a Weber b displaced fracture. I was put in a backslab plaster cast at minor injuries unit on 3/7 - they were pleased with the position of the bone following the cast. Luckily I’m not in much pain.
i had a letter a few days ago giving me an appointment for 20 July.

@Octavia64 - they said it was for the swelling to go down but I’m sure it has gone down by now - 10 days later!

@the80sweregreat - thank you. I am considering a private X-ray.

DH has a fracture in his femur. He's had the first consultant's appointment and follow up x-rays and scans, but despite being "promised" another appointment in 2 weeks, it's now nearly SIX WEEKS and he still can't get an appointment - in fact it's impossible to contact the department as they won't answer the phone - he's got several different numbers to call, but no one ever answers. I've been to the department itself to speak to the receptionists, but all they'll do is pass on messages for someone to call him back, but they never do.

Then they wonder why people rock up in A&E - if they won't answer the bloody phones and won't make urgent appointments, what else are people supposed to do!

I don't know OP but presuming you are in a lot of pain, I would think ringing daily, or even twice daily, and asking for cancellations would be completely reasonable.

What if they don't answer the phone??

Well I am sure you have googled as have I now.

It does seem that a 14 day wait before operating is normal to allow the swelling to reduce and that a back slab is the normal plastering solution to avoid complications that can arise here with a full cast.

I would guess they want to look again and decide if you need an op once the swelling has reduced.

I would say that around two weeks is actually a pretty standard gap between getting a back slab cast and then having further x-rays. They have to wait for the swelling and inflammation to subside, which can take a couple of weeks, and also it's often only when they can see how well the break has responded to a couple of weeks' rest that they're able to decide whether it needs surgery.

My mum had a badly fractured arm recently and it was the same kind of thing - it was about two weeks in the back slab cast before they took another look, and that wasn't because of delays or waiting list, it was a clinical decision.

@KateSixer - yes, I did google it and expected a 1 to 2 week wait but 2.5 weeks before initial appointment and then presumably a further wait for the actual surgery just seems unacceptable.

Not necessarily. A fracture can stay swollen for a couple of weeks.

@BauhausOfEliott - thanks for that. I guess I’m just being impatient! It’s horrible being in limbo 😔

And orthopedic lists move quickly so be prepared to be seen and operated on the next day - hopefully!!

And then presumably a private operation @Inastatus?

@Jannergirl - really hoping to avoid surgery if at all possible but will cross that bridge when I come to it, thanks.

I broke my ankle 28th July. Operation was on 17th August. Seemed to be standard.

Sadly this happens a lot-and worse if you need an MRI for ligaments etc. Not good for health to be hanging around and waiting, instead of getting on with surgery and recovery. I wonder how many people are left permanently less able to do their jobs/childcare/hobbies due to delays in treatment?