Head Injuries

C –v- A NHS Trust

Failure to recognise Orbital Fracture leading to delay in corrective surgery

Background

C was a conditional Jockey “riding out” when on 6th September 2004 he was unseated by a horse, which kicked him in the face. He therefore immediately attended the Accident & Emergency Department at A General Hospital. X-rays were taken, which the Claimant’s experts interpreted as showing clear radiological evidence of an orbital fracture. The A&E doctor and checking Radiologist ignored the radiological evidence, and C was informed he had simply suffered bruising and he could return to work as a Jockey within a week.

However, C was still in intense pain and could not open his jaw properly, so after 2 weeks away from work, he obtained a referral to a Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at another hospital for a surgical opinion.

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