broken tibia x 2 - bent rod

My brother broke his right femur several years back.  In Sept of this year he broke his left tibia.  This past weekend he broke his left tibia again.  The ER doctor and the surgeon that placed his first tibia rod took x-rays and his rod is bent 8 degrees. He had a knot on his shin from the first break and it is 3x in size and his leg looks bent.  The doctors have decided to give him pain medicine and do nothing else.  They said that the curve and knot of/on his leg is probably swelling.  Shouldn't they remove the rod and insert a straight one?  He is only 24 years old, and we are aftraid that this may impair his walking.  He is going to get another physician to look and compare the x-rays from the origional break and the second break.  Until he can get in to see someone else, his leg is going to start healing and we don't think time is on our side if it takes weeks to get surgery if needed.

Thanks in advance.