Broken Bones Knitting?

[david small]

My brother has been laying on a hospital bed for sixteen days tomorrow. His shattered ankle and shattered elbow have yet to be operated on. I’m very concerned about the bone fragments fusing. This seems an excessive delay for treatment. Comments please.

[Patsy33]

I was just reading, a broken ankle should not be left more than a week.
That's terrible to be waiting 16 weeks. I know sometimes, they're waiting for swelling to go down. I hope

[Patsy33]

I hope your brother has op to mend broken bones very soon. Worrying.

[anneasquith]

He/family must ask the medical/ nursing staff to get information ,

[goodgoalie]

It's only 16 days Patsy. But still, that's a helluva wait

[Patsy33]

That's what I meant, GG.. :-)

[jennyjoan]

you need to get on the ball re your brother getting this operation - the bones will fuse if not.

[Canary42]

Having no medical training or experience, I'm afraid I can't comment except to ask, "Have you expressed your concerns to the Doctor(s) at the hospital ?"

[david small]

Apparently they are waiting to find a specialist surgeon for ankles that are fragmented. My poor brother.

[davebro]

No expert but when I broke my leg in several places I had an external fixator on for 6 months. After 16 days if fusion has started it should be relatively easy to break any newly forming joins & re-align the bones.

Couple of important issues - is your brother a smoker & is he fit enough for general anaesthetic?

[david small]

Davebro. Lifetime none smoker. Quite fit for a 65 year old.

[davebro]

I think he should have his op(s) asap.

[Sqad]

" Fools rush in where angels fear to "tread"

You mentioned the plight of your brother on AB a week ago and I will answer your new post.
Ankle surgery, depending upon the type of fracture is specialised surgery and surgeons who specialise in this kind of surgery do not grow on trees. It would be nice for specialist ankle surgeons to be on tap in every area 24/7 but this does not exist in the NHS.

Sixteen days is a long time to wait for operation , but the outcome will depend on the skill of the surgeon and not about waiting a couple of weeks . I would rather wait and get a good result rather than another surgeon "having a go" with what may be an unfortunate and unsatisfactory outcome.

[david small]

Thank you Sqad. I was simply concerned about the bones knitting together and requiring re-breaking as I’ve mentioned it’s an extensive break. I take your well made point. I’ve just spoken to him. He is now nil by mouth. Fingers crossed.

[Sqad]

david......no! no! at this stage, the bones will not be "knitted" just held together by friable fibrous tissue and blood clots.......easily separated and in no sense,,,"rebroken."

[david small]

Operation cancelled.

[Sqad]

Oh! dear.
Ask the junior Dr. what is going on.

[david small]

Update as a courtesy to Sqad. Elbow operation today Thursday. It took four hours. Ankle supposed to be in two days time. We shall see.

[david small]

Final update. Ankle operation done today. Brother now healing. Never to go onto a roof again. What a saga.

[Sqad]

Thanks for the update david.

[david small]

My pleasure Sqad. Thank you for your medical assessment.