One of my patients was admitted with knee pain last Thursday via the Casualty Dept. According to the hospital computer system, she had a knee x-ray in the department. When I fisrt saw her on Friday, she was adamant that all she had in Casualty was a chest X-ray. No knee.
She suffers from Parkinson's, and looked a bit confused then. I promised her I would find her knee film, thinking that she might be forgetful. Meanwhile we should treat her pain symptomatically.
Days came and gone. Still no knee x-ray found today, and more crucially patient is still in much pain. I finally decided to place an urgent call to the X-ray Dept.
"Sorry doc. The knee was requested, but the form wasn't signed by the Casualty Officer. So it wasn't done", said the radiographer.
DUHHH!!! No wonder no one could find the knee film.
Mrs B has Parkinson's, but obviously she isn't demented. I wonder, I wonder why didn't I believe her last Friday? Surely the patient knows best??!! I just hope there isn't any thing serious (eg a big fracture) on her knee X-ray (to be done in the next 1/2 hr). Will keep you update!
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