AboutGlenn A. Dorfman Expertise Twenty-four years experience in personal injury, medical malpractice and medical product liability law. Practice currently concentrated on the diet drug (fen-phen) litigation. Qualified to answer all questions regarding injuries and the law, except for worker`s compensation.
Question I had broken my ulna and was surgically treated with internal fixation. I experienced problems from 2 weeks post surgery. I insisted on being seen for six consecutive weeks,each day my symptoms were getting worse. I was given a xray on each visit. I was convinced something was wrong. On the eighth week the doctor said I had broken my plate. I now know that the hardware had been fractured for over a month, the doctor didn't see it. I had a second surgery by a different surgeon to replace the broken plate. I required bone grafting and was in a full arm cast for 8 months. I have permanent damage and can no longer do my job. I was a hairdresser and artist. Could not recognizing the fractured hardware for 30 days have caused further damage and be the cause of my results.
Answer I can't answer the medical questions. I don't have enough information to understand why the plate broke and I don't know if not realizing the problem for a month made a difference. I am not a doctor and that is why in cases like this.....medical malpractice.....any lawyer you hire has to pay to have an outside medical expert study the medical history and offer an opinion. No harm in contacting a local med mal attorney. Don't pay any money however. If the lawyer isn't willing to get an initial review of the case by an expert on his own dime, the atty lacks necessary enthusiasm. Consider, another surgeon might have done the grafting from the git go but your doctor tried a more conservative approach, maybe for very good reasons, but unfortunately, he was too optimistic. So if that is the case, then you are now where you would have been anyhow. I don't know if the plating was the correct approach and don't know why it failed. Only another doctor can tell you. Best I can do. Sorry.
