"A recent fall, admission to hospital and subsequent treatment"

While on holiday in NSW had a fall crossing the road in a regional town last month in the morning. Sustained a fracture dislocation of the right humerus. I was at the small local hospital until mid afternoon waiting for an ambulance then had a two and a half hour ambulance ride with lights and sirens, arm still dislocated and excruciating pain.

Admitted to Tamworth hospital in the evening, right arm relocated to its correct position and I was admitted for two days. Fracture identified on XRay. Had a CT scan and after review by John Hunter Hospital was discharged with my arm in a sling for conservative management. I was not happy, was in dreadful pain and we drove home to WA in the next 6 days.

Saw a physio immediately who had grave concerns for my arm and referred me to the local SW ED. The registrar that I saw was very attentive and thorough but in my opinion, totally over ridden by the FACEM who said conservative management was their advice that I could ask my GP for an MRI if I wanted peace of mind but they wouldn’t order one. Instead they referred me for a plain x ray and to the fracture clinic.

I was not happy again due to the incredible pain and lack of use of my arm and no hope of improvement. I saw an orthopaedic surgeon the following week in Perth and after a CT and MRI eventually had open reduction and internal fixation of my humerus with a plate and 8 pins and reattachment of the tendons. I am now in an abduction sling for 6 weeks.

In short I believe my arm would never have recovered to normal range of movement with conservative management and I am glad I did not take the advice of either the first orthopaedic surgeon in NSW or the second FACEM in SW WA.

I hope that I am on the road to recovery now but have felt very let down by the health system, a system I worked in for over 40 years. I believe you have to trust your gut if you feel that something is not right especially as your future quality of life is at stake. In my experience, if you feel something is wrong act on it. 

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