Broken Arm story

[Tinijocaro]

dd 11 and ds 9 ran into each other on bikes. dd fell and broke her arm. Brought her to Children's Hospital. We were there 6 hours! I know they were very busy-two traumas were airflighted in while we were there so we got bumped. No problem, they needed treatment first.

The xray showed a break near the wrist of the radius bone. The orthoped was supposed to come in, but after waiting two hours, the nurses came in and said he wouldn't be coming in. He recommended that they splint her, and we make an appointment with an ortho the following week. To me, this didn't sound right so I asked "Are you sure we can wait a whole week?" Yup, no problem. They splinted her and we went home. Her fingers turned purple-they wrapped her way too tight so I re-wrapped her.

After talking with several people who had been through breaks with their own kids, I realized that this wasn't the correct way to handle this. I brought her to a clinic last night who re-xrayed her-found that both bones of the arm were broken. They said that waiting a whole week would not have been good at all! She got a cast and they had to set the bones. They could have started healing wrong in that week!

I'm ticked that they blew us off-I understand that they were busy and that we had to wait-I have no problem with that. I feel we were given substandard and possibly damaging care.

Today I'm calling the hospital to voice my complaints and let them know that I do not expect them to bill either me or my insurance company. I'm very disapppointed.

 

[tazdev3225]

I can understand your being upset but I know that when I have taken my kids with suspected breaks I am told that the readings are reviewed the next day. I was once told my daughter didn't have a break but they splinted her and told us to follow up with the orthopod. Her hand was broken. I didn't think anything of it. I always call the orthopod the next day for an immediate appointment. Usually it is just a tech that reads the film.

 

[LisaNJ25]

A week does sound like a long time. I have had my kids break bones 3 times that required a cast. Each time it was on a Friday/Saturday and I had to wait until Monday to bring them to the Ortho. They have never come to the hospital to do the cast. One time it was my 10mo with a broken leg.. sent us home saying he was find an the next morning found out they misread it and it was broken

 

[laughinplace199]

Wow - I can't believe that they told you to wait a week! That's insane!

DD9 fractured her wrist a few months ago. We went to her pediatrician first (his office is right across the street from the hospital). He examined her, sent her to the hospital for x-rays, and told us to come back to see him after the x-ray. By the time we did all of this, it was after 6:00 PM, so the orthoped dept was closed. Our ped said we had 2 options, go to ER and wait several hours to be seen, or he could splint it, give DD Motrin, and get us in to see the othroped the next day. We went with option 2. She was very uncomfortable until the cast was put on the next day. I can't fathom going a week like that. Sorry that happened to you and I'm glad that you were able to go elsewhere to get your DD the proper treatment.

 

[Ilivetogo]

I cannot imagine leaving a break for a week without being fixed!! It WOULD begin to heal incorrectly and then they may have to do things to RE-fix it. I find it very odd that they'd scoot you out the door with that recommendation. I'll be very interested to hear what the hospital says in reaction to your call. (i.e., what "excuse" they'll give you)

What hospital? town?

 

[Tinijocaro]

What hospital? town?

Women and Children's Hospital, Buffalo NY.

 

[SC Minnie]

The both times DD broke her arm (yes, same arm, same place, within 4 months ) they waited 2-3 days before putting a cast on. The orthoped Dr said the swelling needed to go down before they could cast. Both times though they did set the arm before putting on the splint.

 

[Boo'sMom]

It's not unusual (in my experience) to have a cast done several days after the break. Because of the swelling, often, if they cast it right away, they end up needing to splint the cast.

That being said, it certainly is not an excuse for getting substandard care...and that's an entirely different issue.