"Fully torn ACL misdiagnosed by A&E"

Anything else?

I arrived at Exeter A&E about 48 hours after the initial injury. (I wanted to avoid the dreaded Saturday night A&E) Admittedly I could walk, I was not in severe pain and I was not in a life threatening condition. The first Nurse couldn't understand why I was there as I could walk and was not screaming in agony. I insisted that my knee had popped out of socket and went back in leaving the joint feeling very loose as if it was going to give way again. I showed her my elbow from a previous sporting injury 10 years prior to this which was again a dislocation and fracture that had a titanium pin fixed in. I insisted that that I knew there was something vey wrong. She agreed to call an orthopedic Nurse down to A&E. It was a long wait, I wasn't in a lot of pain so I did not mind the wait and I could also see they were busy. I was told it was a sprained knee and that I should elevate, ice and rest the joint. This was in January 2013. It is now June and my knee went out of place again two weeks ago after months of physio, building back the muscle and regaining movement. I have had an MRI scan last week and the result came back today. A completely torn ACL which needs reconstruction using muscle from my hamstring. I am currently residing in Bournemouth and need to pick a Hospital in an area where I have family to help me as I recover. Exeter is one of the areas that I have family. My mother had surgery at Exeter for a broken leg and she insists that Exeter Orthopedic department is extremely good. My father also has a friend who is a surgeon at Plymouth and he says "if you are going to have an accident make sure you fall over in Exeter or Plymouth" My experience at A&E makes me reluctant to choose Exeter for my ACL reconstruction but I am in two split minds at the moment. This is not a complaint as misdiagnosis happens all the time but I just want some advice on my situation as it is very important to me to get the best treatment possible so I can recover and hopefully play sports/exercise again. I am 25 years of age Kindest regards. P.S. The receptionist at A&E was lovely, chipper and a pleasure to talk to.