GP managed patient's ruptured bicep appropriately

What happened

Mr K, who was in his sixties, fell in late summer 2013. He injured his left arm when he fell onto his outstretched hand. Later the same day Mr K said he felt pain in his arm and noticed a bulge within his arm. Mr K believed that the injury was caused by lifting heavy boxes following the initial fall.

Mr K went to his local GP practice a month later where he complained of pain in his arm. He was examined and given analgesia to ease the pain and was referred to orthopaedics that same day.

In winter 2013, Mr K saw an orthopaedic consultant who diagnosed him with a ruptured bicep tendon.

What we found

We did not uphold this complaint. The GP acted reasonably in conducting an examination and referring Mr K to orthopaedics on a routine basis that same day. As Mr K went to his GP a month after his injury occurred, the timescale for urgent surgical treatment had already been exceeded.