05/02/2026
Case Summary: When Delayed Injury Management Turns “Urgent”
Recently, EDHS received a call from an employer requesting an urgent Physiotherapy appointment for an injured worker, along with an urgent Orthopaedic review.
The reason given?
👉 An ankle injury with ligament damage requiring a moon boot.
As experienced Return to Work (RTW) specialists with over 40 years of combined WorkCover injury management experience, this immediately raised some red flags:
Why was urgent Physiotherapy being sought instead of medical assessment?
Why hadn’t appropriate medical intervention occurred at the time of injury?
🔍 What we discovered
After stepping in to assist and arranging an urgent Orthopaedic review, discussions with the injured worker revealed a concerning detail:
➡️ The worker had actually sustained an ankle fracture FOUR WEEKS earlier.
🗓️ Timeline of events
- The worker attended a local GP at the time of injury
- A treatment plan was provided, but no radiology was arranged
- Three weeks later, the employer engaged an online telehealth GP
- Radiology was finally organised and confirmed the fracture
This then triggered urgent Orthopaedic review and urgent fitting of a moon boot by a Physiotherapist
❗ Where did it go wrong?
The delay in medical assessment, imaging, and specialist referral meant a fracture went undiagnosed for weeks. This avoidable delay turned the case into an “urgent” situation — increasing risk, complexity, and recovery time.
✅ How EDHS would have managed this case
If EDHS had been involved from day one:
Immediate GP or Emergency Department assessment
Support at appointments to ensure appropriate referrals
Fast access to radiology and expedited reporting
Prompt follow-up and specialist referrals
Rapid access to Orthopaedic review
➡️ All of this could have occurred within one week of injury.
🌟 The outcome with early intervention
With timely diagnosis and management, the injured worker could have:
Been immobilised and rested earlier
Received prompt Orthopaedic care
Avoided unnecessary escalation and risk
Achieved a smoother recovery and better RTW outcome
👉 Early intervention matters. Proper injury management from the start protects workers, employers, and outcomes.
For more information on RTW and Injury Management you can contact us at referrals@edhs.com.au or call us 0350001882