Missed fracture on X-ray

[Champagnebar]

I had a fall 10 days ago ( landed on outstretched hand)and visited A & E
The X-rays showed a fracture at the elbow end of my ulna and I was given a cuff and collar type sling just for support.

I was surprised that my wrist showed no fractures as it was the most painful area - particularly if making a twisting motion.

As the days have passsed my elbow feels much better and I am now able to raise it enough to wash my hair properly :) however the wrist is still painful and I really struggle to do minor tasks at home unless I regularly take paracetamol and ibuprofen.

What is the likelihood of a fracture in my wrist not showing clearly and it is in fact in need of stabilising? Has anyone else had similar injuries?

I am considering calling the fracture clinic tomorrow.

Quite possible for scaphoid injuries to be missed, or it could be soft tissue damage. Ask for another xray.

My son had a similar accident a while ago.
The hospital x-rayed his wrist and told him that, while they couldn't see a fracture then, he should have another x-ray in a week's time as they suspected a fracture of one of the small bones in his wrist. Apparently these fractures don't show up immediately, but are visible on x-ray after a few days. They gave him a splint to wear until then and emphasised that it was important that he come back for the second x-ray, as leaving it might cause problems in later life. Fortunately for him the further x-ray was clear.
Hope this helps.

I once had what the doctor called an occult fracture in my wrist. It doesn’t actually show on the xray until it starts to heal.

I got lucky in that given the location of my injury and my symptoms, they diagnosed it as likely broken and casted it anyway. Just the day I had to wait for that was awful.

they had me come back a couple of weeks later, took the cast off, confirmed it was broken with an xray, and put another cast on

Very likely

I went from broken - Cast to a week later not broken, to a phone call on way home from hospital actually it maybe broken, come back

So who knows

Thanks all !

I think I will give them a call and request a second X-ray. Really it was this area that gave me the most cause for concern at the time and made me think I had done some damage somewhere.

I fell when I was running almost 3 weeks ago, I have a radial head fracture of my left elbow and a suspected scaphoid fracture. They put my arm in a soft sling for the elbow and a splint for the scaphoid and arranged a follow up X-ray this week as scaphoid fractures are notorious for not showing up until 10 days afterwards. Mine has come back clear but I have pain in my wrist so the hospital said to wear the splint for another couple of weeks and then wean myself off it. Rotation of my arm is tricky and I don't have full range of movement yet either but it's only been 2 and a half weeks.

Oh and I need to add the context that I was running an ultramarathon when I fell, not nearly enough people at the hospital asked what I was doing 😂😂

If you have a specific point of tenderness then you may very well have a fracture. I had 2 fractures in my hand that didnt show up on the original Xray - but i knew there was a problem - went back and confirmed on subsequent xray and ct. it didnt actually lead to different treatment and i wouldnt say it was 'missed' - the original xray want misreported, but the signa were clearer in the next scan. if you're still in pain go back.

There are a couple of fracture they don't show on X-ray until they are healing and you can see new bone growth, so would be worth it, as others have said there is scaphoid and also triquetral #'s this can happen with. Definitely worth going back for a follow up X-ray if it's on the inner or outer aspect of your wrist