bad medical advice?

What is the name of your state? Michigan
My husband is a delivery/truck driver, on thursday he slipped off the ramp of his work teruck and hurt his right arm and hip. He was taken to the clinic they told him there was something wrong but couldn't see anything on the x-ray. he went back to the clinic on friday they took more x-rays and said the same thing. they gave him a sling on thrusday and said to put ice on it. today(monday) he went back to the clinic...his arm is still swollen and not able to move very much...today they took more x-rays and said that his arm is broken. well it is his elbow that is broken..on the radial(sp?) head. then still did not cast or splint it..instead they gave him another sling. should i be contacting a lawyer? has the damage already been done? i hope someone can help...please respond...

i am not an expert here but being in the health care field myself. I can tell you that not all bone breaks or fractures can be seen on an x-ray right away do to soft tissue swelling. Sometimes it can take 48-72 hours for this to be seen on the x-ray and depending on the location and the serverity of the break or fracture not every one of them require a cast. a sling or splint will work as well and is more cost efffective.

adesire2Bhappy
In addition to your accurate response, fractures are often not 'set' until the swelling has diminished. My only complaints about the use of slings are the temptation for the patient to adjust or remove the sling and patients who adjust or remove the sling.

To the original poster:
If the fractures are to heal without surgical intervention, I hope your husband is a candidate for a cast. (Usually, the swelling has to diminish before a cast can be applied.) I can not imagine trying to live with a husband whose fractured arm is in a sling! Mine would end up breaking his other arm and maybe a leg or two!

Make sure your husband receives frequent assessment of the circulatory and neuro status of his arm and that he stays under the care of the MD and that he follows MD instructions.

Best wishes, truly...
EC

I broke my elbow 41 years ago and it was innovative to use soft casting with splints and slings because there is a lot of swelling with a broken elbow, I never had a cast. Good luck, healing is one thing, recovery and regaing full use may be another.

hello nana.
Since this is an industrial accident you could have your husband call the insurance company that handles his companies workers compensation insurance. He can express concerns to them that his injury is being handled poorly and they will probably recommend a specialist. (especially if you indicate that you might need a lawyer, the word lawyer has a tendency to strike a certain amount of fear into all insurance people). Even though you are contemplating a lawyer to persue medical negligence, worker's compensation adjusters still like to engage in damage control when possible.
I worked for a major carrier and the claims reps and the adjusters knew the names of the best most respected doctors in particular fields. They will probably even set the appointment up for you.
Like the other posters have written, there is probably no real negligence on the part of the clinic but you do want to feel secure that your husband is being treated properly. Since you have doubts I would make the call.
As I recall it may be standard to allow a broken elbow to have some very limited movement since casting it might make the elbow "freeze up". Your husband needs to see an orthopedic surgeon for evaluation and then later possibly physical therapy.