Failure to Diganose, failure to treat fractured fibula, accident injury

I have been involved in a motor vehicle accident five six weeks ago where i was struck by a car. I as admitted to the emergency room where they failed to diagnose my broken fibula. I then got a second opinion where the fracture was overlooked again a few weeks later. Returning to the same doctor weeks later with the same leg pain complaint he orders an MRI and finds the break in my leg and orders new x rays that i got to see. the break is very obvious. he still after this will not treat the fractured fibula. he says i will be fine in a few years. not to run for a year or do anything strenuous. i think this is crazy. what do you think? what is normally done to treat a fractured fibula?

Doctor Joshua’s Answer:

I don’t have the x-rays, nor do I have details of the fibula fracture, so I cannot comment on your specific case, and I can of course not comment on whether there was a missed diagnosis or any other medical malpractice related legal issues.

I can however say that generally, for simple (isolated, nondisplaced) fracture of the middle or upper part (midshaft or proximal) of the fibula, a cast is not normally required, and a few days without putting weight on that leg, then gradually increasing to normal weightbearing is the norm. The patient should be fine in a few months, not years in my opinion. If in doubt, get a consultation with an orthopedist.

In summary, fractures of the fibula do not always require any procedures, immobilization, or cast. Hairline fractures can sometimes be missed on initial x-rays.