Fractured lateral malleolus

[Swampboy]

I have a question regarding my fractured lateral malleolus. My injury happened on a Saturday. I felt it was just a bad sprain, but my wife insisted I get it checked out so I went to an urgent-care type facility the following day, Sunday. The doctor there asked me MY opinion after manipulating my ankle and leg, then said he too thought it was just a sprain. I was told to put some ice on it, do not wrap it, and if it's not better in 5-7 days come back in. I walked on it for the next 7 days and of course it wasn't getting much better. I returned to the same center but saw a different doctor this time. He seemed very surprised that no xrays were taken during my first visit. He ordered x-rays which show what looks like a type B on the Weber System:



(I have the xray on my computer but do not have it published to the internet) He stated that it had begun healing incorrectly and I would need to have it re-broken and set with a plate and screws, which I did have done by an orthopedic surgeon.

My question is this: had the original doctor ordered an x-ray the day following the accident, therefore seeing it was broken, could he have cared for it properly at that point and could the surgery have been avoided? I appreciate any opinions given, thanks.

Rob

[ashish_itbhu]

Anything above A is nowadays treated with ORIF, as it has a chance of displacing and healing improperly.

I am not a doctor to say this, but did a lot of reading during my fracture time to understand this. Mine was also a B type, u can see the xrays i posted before. and the docs were of opinion that it may or maynot heal properly. better not to take risk.

i too asked the same questions you are asking.