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Kneale Brownson

Making fresh tracks forever on the other side
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Nov 12, 2015
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1,863
If you're going to have a surgical repair in Colorado, nobody does a better job with tibia plateau stabilizations than Tom Hackett at Vail Valley Medical Center. He's the knee specialist with the US team.

And really believe Doug's message about overdoing.
 

newboots

Learning to carve!
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Dec 9, 2016
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Catskills
So very sorry to hear it! One of the hazards of this sport, I suppose.

I think the rocks in Vermont might be part of the geologic conspiracy. My SO (pictured in black with me in my avatar) decided to try Devil's Fiddle at Killington while it was closed and while there was swirling windy snow (poor visibility). Hit a rock and tomahawked, but came away more or less uninjured.

(I suspect brain damage from the 53-year history of skiing, ski-racing, and general idiotic ideas like the above.)
 

John Webb

mdskier
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Good thought, @Plai, avoid this if you can :) It’s a bit embarrassing because it was such a rookie mistake. I dropped a cornice into what looked like a pristine field of powder, only to land on a rock outcropping barely covered by snow.
.
I did that exact stunt at Jackson Hole 20 years ago. Th skis were Rossi ST650's with a bakelite foam core. Landing hard on a rock blew out about a foot of the core under the boot and amazing thing was the bindings and edges were still attached. You could hold the ski edgewise and see light for 6 inches to a foot. I was not hurt and actually did another run them at 3pm -talk about sloppy wet noodles ! They were my "rock skis" -the rock won. I also had a set of good skis.

Best wishes for a good recovery @Chris Walker
 

Rudi Riet

AKA songfta AKA randomduck - a USSS coach, as well
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Hey, @Chris Walker: not a fun break at all! Glad you seem to have good orthopedists working on you.

As a fellow #OrthopedicAdventurer, I wish you nothing but smooth healing. I'm with @Tricia: follow the doc's orders with PT and timelines for return to action (speaking from experience here with a hip replacement).
 

Freaq

Pretends to be local
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Jan 10, 2016
Posts
310
Dude, that's messed up! So sorry to see this, best wishes on a complete recovery:thumb:
 
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Chris Walker

Chris Walker

Ullr Is Lord
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739
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Denver
Well, I was supposed to be going under the knife today to repair the fracture, but when I met with the surgeon yesterday he determined the swelling still hasn't gone down enough to operate. Another week with this contraption screwed to my leg.

The Orthopedist said that they used to repair these kinds of fractures immediately, but the problem with that was that between adding hardware, and the swelling associated with these types of injuries, it would pull the skin so taut that the incisions wouldn't heal properly. This would lead to high rates of complications, so that's why they put the fixator on. He said they have been able to bring infection rates from somewhere around 30% to far less than 1%. When compared to the multiple surgeries and other interventions an infection like that would entail, I guess another week of limited mobility is a bargain. Patience isn't a prominent part of my make-up, though. :(
 

Wasatchman

over the hill
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Hang in there, Chris.

I suffered a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture from a basketball injury and I can commiserate. Sorry to see you going through this and wish you all the best in your recovery. While mine was not displaced, I know the injury having lived through one myself. Feel free to PM me anytime if there is anything I can do to help for perspective as someone who has had a tibial plateau fracture.
 
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Kittygal

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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Joined
Apr 2, 2018
Posts
1
My, but you must have done a far better job than I did on my own knee, Chris! That is a spectacular look!

On March 14th, I managed to modestly catch an edge, and I now have a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture, an MCL tear, and a sprain of the PCL. Something to that effect. I do not need any surgery I am told (and I hope that that is correct). I've been in a knee immobilizer for over 2 weeks with partial weight-bearing and am now experimenting with a knee brace instead of the immobilizer. I had one physical therapy session already, and have been trying to work on my range of motion again but boy does that thing hurt when I bend it. Today I stupidly thought I would take one sort of normal step on a stairs, and I swear I broke the knee all over again. At least that's what it felt like. But I'm icing it up good now, and I'm sure it will be as good as it was ...earlier today.

Last May I had had the hip replaced on the opposite leg. That thing held solid as glue through the fall! Both bindings released, thankfully.

The next day on my trusty crutches, I hopped into a job interview, fortunately with someone who is on the Ski Patrol, so I wasn't looked at too oddly. Then afterward I went on to the doctors and the x-rays. Aren't we funny folks sometimes?

I'm hoping that both of us will be good as new before long, and I just bought myself new trekking poles because I figure I'll need them for extra support when I get back to hiking, and also bought myself new ski socks, to keep me optimistic. Keeping our fingers crossed for both of us. And especially you, if you have to do the surgery thing. To be honest with you, if I needed surgery, I would almost rather have it and know that everything is in place and healing nicely, but since I'm told I do not need surgery, I will just presume everything is healing nicely on its own!

Best of luck to you, Chris!

Kitty
 
Thread Starter
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Chris Walker

Chris Walker

Ullr Is Lord
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Dec 8, 2015
Posts
739
Location
Denver
Good as new:

legbone_after.jpg


Six weeks out from surgery. I can start putting a little weight on it, but still need crutches for 2 weeks.

PT is going well; my doc was really pleased with the range of motion.

He said the hardware will probably stay.
 

James

Out There
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Dec 2, 2015
Posts
24,453
Good as new:

View attachment 46260

Six weeks out from surgery. I can start putting a little weight on it, but still need crutches for 2 weeks.

PT is going well; my doc was really pleased with the range of motion.

He said the hardware will probably stay.
That bottom screw looks a little long. Guess the hardware store was out of titanium screws that day.
 

Doug Briggs

"Douche Bag Local"
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This really exemplifies the statement that orthopods make: 'We are really nothing more than glorified carpenters.'

Best of luck with your continued recovery. Good ROM is a great evaluation.

I hope to see you back at this next year:

 

John Webb

mdskier
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Nevada City CA
Tibula Plateau seems like a rather common ski injury. I now know of at least 4 of them.
Can't see how this one happens. :huh:

Does the added hardware set off scanners at airports ?
 

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