Any radiographers here who can explain this to me?

[BeatieBourke]

Had an x ray of my eye socket after a head injury yesterday. Dr thought he saw something on cheekbone and boney bit above the temple, so he went to speak to the radiographer. Came back and said "they disagreed with me".

It was busy and he was a bit shouty and harassed, and I was in pain and dopey. I wish I'd asked more questions. DH took a photo of the x ray on the screen and I've marked up the points he queried.

Can anyone shed any light?

Ask for a 2nd opinion, if it's a fracture how would your treatment vary, is that a reason why something was dismissed because treatment would be the same? Like they can't do much for a cracked rib or toe. But they would pur a limb in a cast.

Really not possibly to say with any accuracy (Im not a radiologist just someone who looks at this type of view a lot) on a picture of a radiograph, there may be a suspicion of an undisplaced fracture in the circle but if there was there would be no treatment other than standard take it easy.

The arrow I can’t see anything much but again not actual clinical advice.

If you feel unwell or aren’t happy back to ED.

Hope you do feel better soon!

Possible not possibly and sorry for any other typos!

@Oinkypig yes, that's what I wondered. Might be something there but if there is, the treatment would probably be the same so why bother going through the faff (as pp said).

Bloody hurts though.

I hate hospitals, avoid at all costs, and had to be talked into going by minors. A bit frustrating to then be treated as though I were making a fuss by shouty Dr and still not get an answer. Of course, I totally understand why this is with the pressure they're under atm.

I can't answer your question but as a word of warning, don't blow your nose to hard for a bit just incase. My husband had a head injury and eye socket damage a few years back. He blew his nose the next day and his eyelid inflated and he couldn't open his eye for a good week or so as air had escaped under the skin with the force of it.

@BeatieBourke @Wrongsideofpennines
Wrongside is right don’t blow your nose/play a wind instrument/anything that increases pressure just in case.

I would have expected the doctor to tell you that, there is no excuse for someone being shouty and rude, I would complain. It would have taken them seconds to say there might be a fracture the radiologist disagrees but to be on the safe side don’t increase pressure in your nose/eye area.

A radiographer can offer their opinion on the x-rays however it’s the clinicians final decision.
The x-rays should have a formal report carried out and it will be sent to the dept who saw you. If there was to be a fracture picked up you would most definitely be notified.

@santastolemycat thank you, that's useful to know.

Here all the X-rays are dealt with in A&E but then looked over by radiologist later. If there is a discrepancy A&E contact the patient at some point later.
Often no action needed as management not changed. So if no one getting back to you after a week I’d relax. Also would avoid blowing nose/ balloons etc until total recovery x

It wouldn’t change your treatment so why does it matter?

@4thdegree because I'm not a doctor so don't know / understand whether it would change my treatment or not? Because not informing people about their own bodies is patronising and denies them autonomy? Because last time a Dr made some assumptions and decided on my behalf that I didn't "need to know" something they turned out to be massively wrong and I almost died?

I not particularly worried here, just curious. I think I'm allowed to be curious about my own face.

Your title is wrong, OP; it wouldve been a radiologist (a doctor who has trained extensively in interpreting scans) not a radiographer (who performs the scans themselves) - might cause some responders a little confusion. I can't help though, and I doubt many others can over the internet either as scans need to be clinically correlated to your symptoms. If you have ongoing symptoms you need to seek medical help if you're unsure. Hope you feel better soon

@shreddiesandmilk Oh yes, sorry. I got the words wrong.

Thank you. Today swelling and pain are going down rather than up, so on the mend.

I have bad PTSD after a complicated birth (ICU for 2 weeks and 3 major ops in 2 months) a few years ago. My anxiety hinges around Drs not listening to me or explaining things fully, because those things proved to be catastrophic in the past. I guess I'm a little irrational in wanting to know the ins and outs of everything. I respect medics' training and expertise, but don't have blind faith anymore and dont appreciate the expectation that patients are passive. I'm sure I'm a massive pain in the ass (even though i try not to be).

That said, it would be helpful to be told that the x ray was unclear but ultimately wouldn't alter treatment either way, rather than have to glean those things myself. A little communication goes a long way. Again, I'm very sympathetic to the reasons that might fall short of ideal at the moment.

Thanks again your help.