Scaphoid Fracture Claims

If your scaphoid fracture has been misdiagnosed or negligently treated, you may be able to make a compensation claim.

Please contact us for advice if you feel you may have a scaphoid fracture compensation claim, or have suffered any form of clinical negligence.

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What is a scaphoid fracture?

The scaphoid bone is a small, but vital, bone in the wrist, close to the thumb. It is important for wrist function and movement.

If an injury causes a break of the scaphoid bone (a scaphoid fracture), it can lead to significant and permanent damage, especially if the fracture is not diagnosed or treated in a timely manner. An x-ray and thorough clinical examination of the wrist are essential in diagnosing a scaphoid fracture.

A scaphoid fracture can happen when a patient has suffered a fall onto an outstretched hand. It can also occur when there has been some form of impact to the wrist, for example, when playing sports.

Often, when a scaphoid fracture has occurred, patients initially think that they have merely sprained their wrist.

What are the symptoms of a scaphoid fracture?

Symptoms of a scaphoid fracture include:

How is a scaphoid fracture diagnosed?

Scaphoid fractures can be difficult to diagnose initially. A full history should be taken, including details such as a description of your symptoms, how the injury occurred, and any relevant past medical history. A wrist examination should also be performed, including a look at the ‘anatomical snuffbox’. This is the indentation that appears to the outside of the hand (between the wrist and the thumb) when the thumb is outstretched.

X-rays can help diagnose the fracture, however often the scaphoid fracture is not visible on the first x-rays taken, and only becomes visible on follow-up x-rays taken 2 weeks later.

This means that if a scaphoid fracture is suspected (even if not visible on the first x-rays taken), then a follow-up appointment should be carried out in the next 2-3 weeks, with a further x-ray. In the interim, as a precautionary measure, the wrist should be placed in a plaster or a splint, so that if it turns out that there is a fracture, the chances of the scaphoid bone healing is maximised.

How is a scaphoid fracture treated?

Once diagnosed, typical initial treatment for a scaphoid fracture involves putting the wrist in a plaster or a splint for 6-8 weeks. Regular reviews are then undertaken to check if the fracture is healing satisfactorily.

Should the scaphoid bone not heal with treatment in a plaster or splint, then surgical treatment may be necessary to help the scaphoid bone to heal.

What if a scaphoid fracture is misdiagnosed?

The earlier a scaphoid fracture is treated, the greater the chance of it healing without needing surgery.

A delay in diagnosis can mean that recovery may be prolonged, which is likely to result in greater pain over a longer period of time than would have been experienced with earlier diagnosis and treatment.

In addition, the longer a scaphoid fracture is left undiagnosed and without appropriate treatment, the more likely greater damage and injury will occur. This can lead to more complicated surgery being required and can even lead to permanent damage.

Furthermore, scaphoid fractures can result in more severe conditions including avascular necrosis (where there is very little, or even no, blood supply to the bone) and arthritis. There can be a greater risk of developing such conditions when there has been a delay in diagnosis.

Why choose us?

We offer free initial advice and free assistance drafting a Letter of Complaint.
We won’t charge you anything upfront, and we work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.
Our specialist team is headed by a dual-qualified doctor/solicitor.
We are rated as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot

It is important to contact us as soon as possible. This is because there are strict time limits in place for making a claim for compensation. Once contacted, our solicitors will be able to advise you specifically on the facts of your own case.

How can we help you?

Our team is headed by a dual-qualified doctor and solicitor, so we benefit from in-house medical knowledge. Our team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors would be happy to help quickly and efficiently assess any areas of potential negligence for a wide range of claims.

We have a wide range of experience in dealing with scaphoid fracture compensation claims and have also developed brilliant working relationships with many orthopaedic experts who we know to be approachable and reliable in assisting us with scaphoid fracture compensation claims, which allows us to ensure we get great expert advice for our clients.

Want to have a free and confidential chat in relation to a potential scaphoid fracture claim? Give our team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors a call on 01244 354688.

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Scaphoid Fracture Claims

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What is a scaphoid fracture?

What are the symptoms of a scaphoid fracture?

How is a scaphoid fracture diagnosed?

How is a scaphoid fracture treated?

What if a scaphoid fracture is misdiagnosed?

Why choose us?

How can we help you?

Medical Negligence case studies

Key contacts

Megan Wilson

Liz Fry

Linda Schermer-Jones

Kerry Goulden

Emma Williams

Get in touch