Question about current medical practice [View All]

[shimmergal]

Last week my 10-year-old granddaughter had an accident on the playground. She got a bump on her head and hurt her arm. Initially we were all more concerned about the head bump; the arm was somewhat swollen but she didn't seem to be in much pain. We figured she'd sprained her wrist and she went back to school the next day (Friday). In fact, she even performed in a dance recital over the weekend.

But by Monday her lower arm was still swollen. A trip to the pediatrician followed; then to the diagnostic center for X-rays. It turned out she has a fracture. But, she had to go to an orthopedist to get it taken care of, and the earliest open appointment was Wednesday.

She's just come back from there, with a bright pink cast and a note that she can't take P.E. for the rest of the semester. (She's real happy about the latter!) Plans are for the cast to come off in a month.

Now, unlike a lot of problems people have described here, there's every reason to think this'll turn out OK. Fortunately. It was a simple crack in the bone, no "setting" necessary, and the whole cast-application went speedily. Her parents have good insurance, so hopefully no worries there.

But--we've been talking about how differently this was handled from previous broken bones in the fammily. IOW, why'd she have to wait to get the cast? It seems like this is something any competent doctor could do. Why an extra trip to a specialist, Is it just here, or has medical practice changed so much in the last decade or two? Just wondering; would appreciate input from others.