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Original poster

anybody here with knowledge of fractures?

11 replies

Ponders · 02/05/2011 16:05

DH fell off his bike this morning & damaged his left elbow - there was some swelling & it was excruciatingly painful if he tried to straighten it.

He's been to A&E (well the minor injuries section) & they've X-rayed it - they say it's fractured at the elbow end of the "long bone" in his forearm (is that radius or ulna?) but that they don't put pots on any more, they mend better if moved as much as possible Shock & they didn't even give him any painkillers, just said to take paracetamol Hmm (luckily we have some co-codamol in so he can take that)

so they're sending him home - still in pain, barely able to use his left arm, no strapping, nothing - he won't be able to drive I don't think. This is crazy, surely?

He can see a GP or go to the treatment room at our Health Centre tomorrow to see what they say but meanwhile he's just stuck with it.

Any ideas please?

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 02/05/2011 16:16

hmmm...I'm not sure what the treatment is for a fracture of an adults radius/ulna but what I would say is that A&E depts do make mistakes.

DS has fractured his humerus (bone above the elbow) twice. The second time he did it I was told in A&E "we don't plaster this type of fracture in children" Hmm. I pointed out to them that they had plastered it when he had exactly the same injury a year ago (they had put a temporary 'old-fashioned' white plaster bandage one on first and then the lighter sort in fracture clinic the next day) but I was still told that they don't use plaster.

The following day at fracture clinic I told the consultant that thats what I'd been told and he said that they most definitely do plaster them!

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is...get a second opinion!

Original poster
Ponders · 02/05/2011 17:06

thank you, Norbert Smile

he was told by the doc (I wasn't there) that because it's right at the elbow joint, immobilising it wouldn't help & might actually hinder healing. his fracture clinic appt isn't for 2 weeks but I suppose timing is less critical for an adult. anyway he seems quite confident!

she told him to move it as much as he can without causing pain so he's sitting down waving his arm about Hmm Grin

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CMOTdibbler · 02/05/2011 17:33

If its a radial head fracture (which it sounds like), then yes, they are best moved as much as possible if they are type 1. I was found to have done mine (missed in the general horror of my wrist), but when it was found 8 weeks later they said they wouldn't have done anything for it anyway

alphabill · 02/05/2011 18:55

Hi my ds had a really bad fracture to his elbow and had to go to theatre to reset it and he was in plaster but only for a week. I am no expert but I think they like you to be able to move the elbow to prevent it setting in such a way that you can't straighten your arm. It did take some time before my son was able to straighten his arm fully and he needed some physio but he is fine now.
Good luck

ragged · 02/05/2011 19:01

Fractures at the elbow can be particularly hard to see on an Xray, or diagnose. Old friend had to be Xrayed several times before they could see his break, needed surgery after that too. I would closely query the immobility or not thing, being immobile is generally to be avoided if possible, though. It weakens the muscles too much.

Original poster
Ponders · 02/05/2011 20:24

CMOT "I was found to have done mine (missed in the general horror of my wrist)" - Shock what on earth happened to you????

alphabill, your DS's sounds horrible too, did it mend 100%?

Thanks all anyway, very helpful & reassuring Smile

he has got a simple sling which he can stick his arm in if he wants to give it a rest...& he says although it's aching a bit it's not hurting...so I suppose it'll be OK...Confused

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CMOTdibbler · 02/05/2011 20:42

I smashed all of the carpal bones (bottom bit of your hand) and dislocated my wrist plus a few other things in there. I thought my elbow hurt in the upright sling, but the rest hurt so much I didn't pay much attention.

Original poster
Ponders · 02/05/2011 21:56

did you fall & stick your hand out so it took all your weight? sounds horrible

if by upright sling you mean hand up by collar-bone, DH found that hurt like hell too - he has a horizontal one now.

was your elbow OK in the end? (& all your hand/wrist bones?)

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CMOTdibbler · 02/05/2011 22:13

Fell off my horse and just landed entirely on my hand.

The sling was to hold my arm right up in the air to try and reduce the very extensive swelling.

My hand is v messed up and I'm having it fused on Saturday to reduce the pain. But my elbow is ok

Original poster
Ponders · 02/05/2011 22:41

oh gosh, that was a major fall then

can you still ride with it?

hope the fusing helps - good luck Smile

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Original poster
Ponders · 02/05/2011 22:42

actually "fusing" sounds pretty uncomfortable Shock

why haven't we evolved to have unbreakable bones?

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