OK Rules for post
Straight forward useful advice only
no political ****
if you want to do that sling ur hook

My GF took a bit of a tumble today and has a fairly interesting break to her Tibia just above the ankle – the A&E docs made some funny noises when looking at the x-rays.

Anyway have full BUPA cover

So the question is any real experience in Barrow Ortho? Option is always for second opinion and whisk her away somewhere else in the morning as they have put a cast on to hold it in place tonight.

Failing that any real ortho surgeons care to take a look a the x-rays (can e-mail)

Apart from that many thanks to the Police and Ambulance for all the help they gave.

I’m not a doc but my wife is am ortho surgeon and she would never do an internet diagnosis, nor would any doc worth their salt.

Is the private hospital in Barrow (assume you mean Barrow in Furness) or in Manchester? If its in Barrow, it will probably be the same consultant and to be frank if it needs surgery the NHs will be just as good and theoretically as quick.

Mrs FD is of the opinion though that the better surgeons tend to be (not always) at the tertiary hospitals, which I assume is Manchester but I could be wrong. As they tend to be doing more routinely complicated and pioneering work. So the private surgeon in manc is possibly going to be more skilled and up to date but to be fair there want be much in it at all.

Private is usually good when you want to jump NHs Que, but in this instance if she needs surgery the NHS will be just as quick. Also private is great for quick in and out. After care tends not to be that great ie if complications occur, and if you have complications mid opp, private hospitals do not have life support facilities of NHS hospitals and you can end up being transferred in an ambulance to an NHS hospital. Having said that Private hospitals are nice hospitals with nice food and sky TV. Depends what experience your after.

Discuss it with the consultant. Mrs FD never minds people asking as long as they don’t go.down the route of the NHS is crap..

It’s fibula btw.

cheers FunkyDunc
she sees happy enough with surgeon’s plan this morning and is staying in barrow (in furness) Had the private discussion but opted to stay put.

Sounds like a fairly simular injury to one I sustained a few years back (fell off a horse, broke tibia and fibula, dislocated ankle).

The NHS treatment was spot on, apart from the slight delay (2 days) before surgery. I know hospitals differ, but all the surgeons are qualified the same whether they’re private or NHS.

Use your Bupa for rehab though, the NHS physio is awful, it delayed my recovery somewhat.

Hope she makes a good recovery.

What funky dunc said…..

Although I’d like a nosy at the xrays as well, but then I’m just a bit like that……

Speaking as a Barrovian with all of my family and loads of friends up there – DO NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR FURNESS GENERAL!

I know there has been loads of media hype lately but I could honestly go on for hours with tales of woe and ineptidute from that place.

Best course of action would be to ask the Ortho what surgery is required, what complications can occur (short and long term) and how likely are they, have they done this procedure before an what their success rate is.

If you are in a small hospital then ask if referral to a larger tertiary hospital would mean access to a more experienced ortho team.

Oh and if you have bupa etc then physio etc would be well worthwhile sorting out as NHS stuff often takes a while to sort out.

Good luck.

I think if you’re private, Manchester is the nearest BUPA hospital. Thats why I hesitated to take the cover my employer offered.

Email the leg to me and I’ll have a go at fixing it for you – 24hrs turnaround time too….

DrP

I agree with a lot of the above, if you are being treated in a manner you are happy with stick with the NHS. if you are seeing the consultant directly your chances are higher IME if you get the trainee’s you are at risk.

my experience for a wrist fracture is that I got fobbed off by a busy fracture clinic, was given an inappropriate treatment plan and have had two complex operations rather than one simple one and have lost function permanently and a year of activity due to pain

Google “Prof Christer Rolf” . He is surgeon to the Swedish Olympic team. He works out of Sheffield seeing mainly profesional sportsmen and women. I saw him under BUPA when I was recomended him and can’t speak too highly of him. I know it’s a 2.6 hour drive for you but worth it.

Let me know if you want his secretarys phone and email address.

C

Chris E wouldn’t you rather have a surgeon who is used to doing the same op regularly than one who does ops every so often and is uber specialised…just a thought

Have a sensible chat with the docs looking after you at the hospital where you currently are. If they can explain in simple language what they plan to do, explain the rehab and potential complications of surgery and are able to do the surgery this weekend (which is likely to be as much related to ankle / soft tissue swelling as theatre space) then my advice is to stay put.

Ankle fracture / dislocations are extremely common injuries and any consultant orthopod will be able to fix it personally or supervise a junior surgeon carrying out the operation. There is no need to go to Sheffield.

Feel free to e-mail with Qs. I don’t post on here regularly but have been lurking a long time. Oh, and I’m an orthopaedic surgeon.
Tim

OK so feedback time, got her home after 3 nights in. Pins & Screws later turns out that due to the proximity to many silly ramblers braking their ankles they have loads of practice and experience in this type of injury!! Only problem was a 4hr round trip to Barrow – ended up camping in Ulverston last night!

Off to BUPA for rehab though!!

Grand, that’s what you want, speedy surgery from an experienced team and hopefully a good outcome. Good luck.

bruk – Member

Grand, that’s what you want, speedy surgery from an experienced team and hopefully a good outcome. Good luck.

Agreed