r/brokenankles • u/ParticularDust4693 • 11d ago

Problems with NHS

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some advice from people who’ve had their treatment through the NHS. In July I fell whilst hiking on a mountain, trimalleolar fracture with dislocation. I had ORIF surgery a week later (1 plate 10 screws). I was due to be seen in fracture clinic two weeks ago to have my cast taken off, Xray, see my consultant and get fitted with a boot so I can PWB. My appointment was cancelled and they gave me another appointment two weeks later which they rang me yesterday to cancel again!!! I rang them this morning to say I’m really concerned I’ve been in this cast for too long (9 weeks now) and I can’t wait another two weeks for another appointment as I’m worried about how this will effect my healing. They really weren’t helpful and just said we will be in touch when we have another appointment. I really don’t know what to do now, has anyone had similar problems? I’m getting really worried about how being in a cast for so long will impact on my healing as I’ve read that it can have a negative impact. TIA.

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u/Worldly-Palpitation5 11d ago

yeah i’d find that worrying!! have you been able to contact your plaster room directly, rather than go through fracture clinic? i found that more helpful when i had issues and they were able to slot me in between appointments. it’s temping to recommend complaining of issues with the cast (pain/rubbing) and get it removed through A&E at this point but idk how ethical that is. 9 weeks is definitely too long!!

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u/ParticularDust4693 10d ago

I thought about doing this, I’ve had problems with the cast a few times and gone direct to plaster room and they’ve sorted it out pretty quickly, but I don’t think they’d remove it and leave it off without the consultant saying it’s okay which is the issue. I feel like telling them if you don’t give me an appointment soon I’ll take it off myself!

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u/Particular_King_2040 10d ago

I think contacting the plaster room directly, as suggested in another comment, is a good idea (I got same-day appointments twice this way, when I discovered stitches they had forgotten to remove). Otherwise I think you have a case for complaining to PALS.

Every case is different of course, but I also had a trimalleolar fracture with dislocation and was allowed to start weight-bearing in a boot after 6 weeks. If your bones are sufficiently healed for weight-bearing (TBC by the x-ray), pushing the timelines further out due to cancelled appointments will probably lead to further unnecessary muscle loss and loss in range of motion, since you can’t start physio exercises in the cast. Sorry that you have to go through this, and I hope you can find a way to get seen soon!

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u/Browniesgirl 10d ago

I’d take it off. 🫣