In this guide, we will look at when you could claim for a delayed finger fracture diagnosis. We’ll look at how this kind of incident can be caused by medical negligence and the impact that it could have on you.
Delayed finger fracture diagnosis
Medical professionals owe a minimum standard of care to those who they treat. They should act in a way that avoids unnecessary harm to their patients. If they breach this duty of care and harm is caused as a result, this could form the grounds of a medical negligence claim.
This guide will talk about the duty of care that medical professionals owe, and how they can be found to have acted negligently if they failed to provide an acceptable level of care. We will also give you information on how to fund legal representation on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you want to speak to someone directly, please reach out to one of our advisers now by:
- Calling us on 0800 652 3087
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Select A Section
- What Is A Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis?
- How Is A Finger Fracture Diagnosed?
- Can Fractures Be Misdiagnosed Or Not Show On An X-Ray?
- When Could You Claim For A Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis?
- How Much Could You Claim For A Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis?
- Contact Us To Begin Your Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis Claim
What Is A Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis?
A finger fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the finger. It could be a small crack in the bone or a break that divides it completely. The severity of the break might affect how it is treated.
Every healthcare professional is expected to meet the required standard of care when dealing with a patient. If you suffered a delayed diagnosis of a finger fracture because of a breach in this duty, then you may be able to claim.
In order to claim, you need to show that the delay in diagnosis caused you harm. For example, if you had a small hairline crack in your finger might initially be misdiagnosed as a sprain.
However, the advice and treatment for both conditions could be the same and your injury heals despite the incorrect diagnosis. As a result, the misdiagnosis does not have an impact on your health; in this scenario, you would not be able to claim.
For more information on claiming for the harm caused by medical negligence resulting in a delayed finger fracture diagnosis, speak with an advisor today.
How Do You Know If Your Finger Is Fractured?
According to the NHS, potential symptoms of a broken finger could include:
- Painful
- swollen
- bruised
- Difficulty moving your finger
If you experience any of the above, you should contact 111 or seek medical attention at your nearest urgent care or walk-in centre.
If your finger is visibly bent or out of place, looks blue or feels numb then the NHS recommends that you visit your nearest A&E as soon as possible.
How Is A Finger Fracture Diagnosed?
In some cases, a break to the finger may be quite easy to diagnose. For example, in cases of open fractures, the bone will be visibly sticking out of the finger and the digit may be bent in an unnatural shape.
When the fracture is closed and the finger is not misshapen, the doctor might order an X-ray so that the condition can be diagnosed.
If you believe that a healthcare provider has breached the duty of care that they owe you, resulting in an impact on your health, please contact an adviser. They can provide information on whether you could make a claim for your delayed finger fracture diagnosis.
Can Fractures Be Misdiagnosed Or Not Show On An X-Ray?
Because of the way X-ray imaging works, it is not always possible to produce a clear image of an injury. If a fracture is subtle or non-displaced, then it might be invisible on an X-ray.
If your doctor misses your fracture because it’s too subtle to be picked up on an X-ray, then this may not be an example of a breach of duty of care.
However, there are instances where a fracture being missed despite an X-ray being performed could be caused by negligence. For example:
- The X-ray is performed incorrectly
- The results of the X-ray are misplaced
- The doctor misreads the X-ray, despite your fracture being diagnosable from it
When Could You Claim For A Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis?
If a healthcare provider acted negligently in the assessment of your finger injury and this led to your condition worsening, then you could be eligible to make a claim.
Negligent actions in this instance can be actions like:
- Failing to identify a fracture despite clear symptoms that should have prompted follow-up tests
- Failing to perform a scan properly
- Failing to accurately read a chart properly when it did visibly indicate a fracture
If your condition then worsened in a way that would not have happened had the right level of care been administered, then you could be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
For example, failure to diagnose a fracture could result in nerve damage or an increased risk of arthritis in the affected digit. In some cases, you might need surgery because of the progression of your condition; if this is the case, then medical negligence could result in scarring.
Please speak to an adviser to see if you could be able to make a claim for a delayed finger fracture diagnosis.
How Much Could You Claim For A Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis?
If your condition worsened because of a delayed fracture diagnosis, you can make a claim for compensation The general damages head of your claim will cover the developed injuries and any pain and distress it may have caused you.
We have included a table featuring finger fractures and common complications to show you potential compensation awards. The awards come from the April 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines.
Injury Notes Award
Hand injuries: (d) Amputation to the middle and/or ring fingers £61,910 to £90,750
Hand injuries: (e) Serious injuries reducing the function of the hand by half £29,000 to £61,910
Hand injuries: (f) Severe finger fractures that can result in partial amputations Up to £36,740
Hand injuries; (g) Reduced function to a significant degree despite surgery £14,450 to £29,000
Hand injuries: (i) Complete or partial loss of the index finger £12,170 to £18,740
Hand injuries: (j) Fracture healed with continued problems £9,110 to £12,240
Hand injuries: (k) A middle finger fracture with permanent disabilities £10,320 to £16,340
Hand injuries: (p) Little finger or ring finger amputation In the region of £21,810
Hand injuries: (r) Thumb loss £35,520 to £54,830
Hand injuries: (s) Serious thumb injury £19,600 to £35,010
You can also make a claim for compensation to address any financial effects you may have suffered from the injury. These are costs such as:
- Loss of income
- Prescription costs
- Adaptation costs, for example if you had to make changes to your home or vehicle to cope with your injuries
If the loss was caused by the injury you suffered after the missed diagnosis, you might be eligible to make a claim for it.
If you want more information about how much your claim for a delayed finger fracture diagnosis could be worth, please reach out to one of our advisers.
Contact Us To Begin Your Delayed Finger Fracture Diagnosis Claim
A solicitor can help you make a medical negligence claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you do not have to pay them an upfront fee and you do not pay them any ongoing fees.
If your claim is a success, then they will deduct a legally-capped percentage of your award. If your claim is lost, then you don’t pay your lawyer for their services at all.
To see if you can work with a No Win No Fee solicitor, please reach out to one of our advisers now. You can reach one by:
- Calling us on 0800 652 3087
- Using the contact us page
- Using the featured ‘live support’ option
For other resources
- CQC: You can make complaints about a care provider to the Care Quality Commission
- NHS: Request medical records to use as proof in your medical negligence claim.
- NHS: Information on X-rays.
Thank you for reading our guide to claims for a delayed finger fracture diagnosis. Other guides include:
Time Limit For Medical Negligence Claims
If you have any more questions about claiming for a delayed finger fracture diagnosis, speak with an advisor today.
Writer Marlon Campbell
Publisher Fern Stiles