So I mentioned on the general chatter thread that my eldest has broken his arm. It's a break high up on the humerus, completely across the bone and displaced, and as such they can't put it in a cast so the two options are pinning it in surgery or putting it in a sling and letting gravity make the bones align. They opted for the latter course of action to minimise the risk of a GA and of infection.
Fast forward to today, 8 days after the accident. The x-ray he has now had shows the bone has partially moved but is still displaced which it shouldn't be given how long it's been in the sling. He's also got very little ability to move his hand which again they thought should be better by now. The surgeon has mentioned surgery but wants to see his next Wednesday for more x-rays to decide.
We have been going through the public system but we do have private cover. I mainly keep it for if one of the kids needs doing something that they would otherwise have a long wait for but now I'm wondering if I should get a second opinion. It seems a long time to wait and both my husband and I think it should be pinned so he can get on with healing.
What would you do? Get a 2nd opnion or just wait until Wednesday next week and see what the next x-rays show? Also, has anyone seen a private orthopaedic surgeon with their kids and how much was the excess between insurance and doctor's fees? I know $$ shouldn't come into it but unfortunately they do at the moment.
i'd be seeking the opinion of a private ortho - that just seems like a really long wait - it should be starting to knit by now, not waiting on alignment - and if it doesn't align, or does, but not correctly, he's been through a significant period of wasted time when he could be on the mend. i wouldn't risk it on a maybe. with 19 years of badly healed break in my past, and facing my third surgery soon, i wouldn't consider risking it.
Can't help with the costs, cause I haven't had to use it with my kids.. You can always have the consultation and see what they say, and not be locked into the surgery.
But I am another one with a broken bone not set correctly and giving me grief 20 yrs down the track. Mine is my finger, and it it was anything else, would be going nuts..
I do have a plate and screws in my arm from a clean break, and whilst I admit that I have pain with extreme weather changes, but there was more risk of my arm not setting correctly that wasn't worth the risk..
I would be getting a second opinion ASAP before the bone starts to heal in the incorrect position. They may suggest the same thing and atleast your concerns about the treatment plan may be lessened
Not sure about the costs a specialist consult for the first appointment can range from $50-$120 out of pocket. If surgery or hospital is needed it would depend on your insurance provider, you can also ask to be admitted as a private patient ina public hospittal which can reduce some costs. In Adelaide there are no private hospitals with paed wards
Thanks guys I think you have all said what DH and I have been thinking. I'm going to phone a surgeon tomorrow to sound them out and see if I can get the x-rays sent over to him. My health insurance has no excess for kids on hospital stays and the private hospital has a paed ward so that should be ok. Guess I won't know until I know I phone and at least if the 2nd opinion says the same then I will be happier with the treatment offered.
I would be getting 2nd opinion private as that seems a really long time to wait and for what?? high chance will still need surgery and takes longer for him to have pain.
after the last time I posted I spoke to a woman I know whose daughter had the same type of break and she talked me through the treatment she had, which was the same as recommended for my DS1 so I decided to give the public system a 2nd chance and at the next appointment his case was reviewed by 3 consultants and a good course of action agreed on. He was given a lower arm splint to support his wrist as he had nerve damage that they expected to resolve around the 6 week mark and his bones have started to knit together nicely.
Fast forward to today and his x-rays are looking fine but his nerves are still not recovered almost 7 weeks post break, so we had nerve conduction tests done by a neurologist. These tests showed damage to the median nerve although it is in continuum, and severe damage to the radial nerve with no evidence that is it in continuum (ie it could possibly be severed).
Please, does anyone have experience with this sort of injury and what should I do? I have made an appointment for the GP tonight to go through the results but he doesn't have an orthopaedic appointment for 2 weeks and the neurologist just gave me the report with no recommendation for treatment. Should I be pushing for a quicker appointment or do you think I should call the orthopaedic registrar at the hospital and ask for advice? Please please please any help so gratefully received.
Kids and broken bones - what would you do?
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