Unfortunately fractures are a common risk in life. Anyone who is active runs the risk of being injured during sport, falling over or at work. There are therefore tens of thousands of presentations at accident and emergency every year. Unfortunately due to accident and emergency being the busiest part of any hospital mistakes happen.

There may be a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis due to incorrectly interpreting x-rays incorrectly. The delayed or incorrect treatment can cause the problem to worsen.

In other instances attempted repairs to fractures can fail. This can result in surgery that could have been avoided if the fracture was diagnosed and appropriately treated the first time the patient presented.

If a patient presents in A&E with a fracture and it goes undiagnosed this may mean that surgery no longer becomes an option and the patient is left with a problem for the rest of their life.

Even where there is not a fracture mistakes can occur. For instance where a wound is not dressed appropriately which leads to an infection.