When not diagnosed early and managed correctly, commonly missed orthopedic injuries can result in a long-term disabling condition. These can affect the musculoskeletal system, which is the group of muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and joints that move the body and maintain its form. A musculoskeletal disorder occurs when a part of the system is injured over a period of time. They are some of the most common of disabling afflictions that affect people in all age groups.
Type of Injuries Doctors Miss
An individual’s primary care physician usually encounters musculoskeletal problems. Most of the time these injuries get better in a short timeframe with rest, ice and taking anti-inflammatory medication. Commonly missed orthopedic injuries can result in a malpractice claim when the patient’s radiographs or x-rays are misread. If they are left untreated, the patient can suffer and may become handicapped as a result. The injuries missed most often are:
- Knee Ligament Injuries—The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be injured following a sudden impact to the knee. Over 80% of patients who experience a torn ACL are disabled immediately and cannot continue their normal activity.
- Rotator Cuff Injury—This type of shoulder injury often happens due to a fall, heavy lifting or repetitive arm activities, such as throwing a baseball or stocking items on overhead shelves. A chronic tear can develop over a period of time and therefore may be initially missed by your doctor.
- Femoral Neck Stress Fracture—These injuries are most often seen in runners or military trainees and can happen in a relatively short time. They are hard to diagnose because the pain may be localized in the hip, thigh or back.
- Achilles Tendon Rupture—The Achilles tendon is a fibrous cord that connects calf the muscles to the heel bone. Ruptures often occur during recreational sports activities, such as playing basketball. This can be left undiagnosed when the patient only experiences a minimal amount of pain.
- Fractured Scaphoid—A wrist fracture is often seen in adolescents and young adults and typically occurs while participating in sports. The patient may overlook the seriousness of their condition because it feels just like a sprain. It may be hard to detect a hairline fracture unless the x-rays are of extremely high quality.
- Lumber Sprain—This happens with a sudden injury to the lower back region causing torn muscles or ligaments. A sprain or strain may be misdiagnosed if there is another underlying condition, such as a disc injury.
Many of these types of injuries may require a trip to the emergency room where they are misdiagnosed and the patient is sent home with minimal treatment. The reason for this includes a failure to suspect a fracture and therefore, x-rays are not taken.
Getting Legal Advice
When a doctor fails to diagnose your injury, you may be left with a life-long debilitating condition as a result of their negligence. Sometimes a primary care physician does not refer the patient to a specialist in the appropriate amount of time. It is imperative that you seek legal advice from a malpractice attorney if you have been the victim of a missed diagnosis.
