"K wire removal on a child"

My daughter fell at school and had a bad break to her arm at the elbow. She required surgery and 3 wires were fitted to stabilise it. After 3.5 weeks the cast and wires needed removal.

I was given an information leaflet saying this was a simple outpatient appointment and equivalent to getting a blood sample taken. I was advised to give my child calpol 1 hour prior to surgery. My child (6 years old) and I were totally unprepared for the trauma she experienced.

In my opinion this was not a simple procedure, and nowhere near on par with a blood sample. The removal of the cast was painful enough as it had caught around the pins and she felt the tugging. The pins were then yanked out with what looked like pliers, with no further pain relief nor anaesthetic. I was in tears and my child was screaming in pain.

There has to be a less traumatic way of removing these wires on a young child. I hate the thought of other children having to go through this process. It has been 1.5 weeks since this procedure and my child won't let anyone near her arm. I wasn't able to change her clothes for 2 days as she was so scared of me touching her arm.

The very thought of having to go back to her next appointment in a few weeks is filling her with anxiety. I'm scared that she will forever fear hospitals and doctors.

I cannot fault the staff. They were professional and very kind and sympathetic. I am just very upset with a system that allows this procedure to take place in such a traumatic way. There has to be a better solution.