Exploded knee anyone??

[Noggin]

Looking at the bit they screwed back into place, a TKR might not have been possible.. or possible in the future

He’s already said it’ll be necessary in the future. Didn’t have the bits to do it yesterday and he wasn’t convinced it’d be a fast recovery. Speaking to a couple of friends, the fitter you are before the KR the faster the recovery (I was only aiming for a half, but arthritis will probably decide what happens rather than me)

[Yorick]

She said gash

[Skub]

Chicks dig scars.....oh wait...

[ZRX61]

He’s already said it’ll be necessary in the future. Didn’t have the bits to do it yesterday and he wasn’t convinced it’d be a fast recovery. Speaking to a couple of friends, the fitter you are before the KR the faster the recovery (I was only aiming for a half, but arthritis will probably decide what happens rather than me)

That's a bugger. Talking with my ortho surgeon before he did mine:
Dr: You're not running marathons are you?
Me: The only thing I run is my mouth...

[Supermofo]

I must say madam, that is a mighty impressive gash you have there.

[Yorick]

I must say madam, that is a mighty impressive gash you have there.

[Scotsrich]

When I read the headline I didn’t even need to look further to guess who the poster was.

As Albert King sang “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all”

GWS.

[Noggin]

Lost the will to post in hospital!! They were so much better than last time I was there (cos I could talk to them this time! Always goes down well if an English can have a conversation in French) but they are soooo busy (many helicopters arriving, couldn't see ambulances but would have been lots) and so if you dont shout a lot you tend to get forgotten a bit. Along with them telling me they didn't have any wheelchairs I could use to get to the loo so I had to use a big armchair thing that had wheels but was a challenge and no leg support for the broken one so each trip caused a new round of pain (course, they found a wheel chair for the last neighbour i had )

Anyway - yesterday I was transferred to a rehab centre. I have a room with a view, a wheelchair with a leg support, an easily accessible shower room and the food appears to be way better (if lunch today is anything to go by!)

Yesterday was a bit tiring and this morning was a dressing change - somewhat intense and painful due to the blisters So I just didn't have the energy to go get lunch (whilst I love the wheelchair and it's kinder to my spazzy arm than crutches, it still isn't nice, so need to build up the distance!) - I said it was ok, I have fruit and snacks but they said no, we'll bring it to you

After lunch I had my first physio session. So for the last time I did the break, albeit MUCH simpler, I was in resort for 9 weeks so saw the phsyio three times a week. Being in the centre I expected a couple of physio sessions each weekday day and maybe some occupational therapy. Nope -

2 sessions of physio
Plus one or two 30 mins sessions on a machine that moves my leg to encourage the flexion
plus exercises in my room

haven't got to occ therapy yet!!

AND apparently I can't stop for two days so I get physio on Saturday mornings as well!!!


I think I may just sleep on Sundays!!


In spoilers cos it's still not nice!!

Actual scar is looking good but the blister sites are yucky (to me) - healing fine but a challenge when the dressing is on, especially as I now have a compression bandage from my toes to mid calf. Can't move my foot back towards me due to the bruising in the back of my calf

The compression is because my broken leg is massively swollen compared to the other. I mean, I never had skinny thighs, but my calves and ankles were quite neat not anymore on the left side LOL

And the colours are impressive - considering I broke my knee only and had ski boots on the didn't seem to cause any pain during hte crash, my leg is anything from yellow - green - purple from ankle to mid thigh

Spoiler

[Supermofo]

Yeech, you really don't fuck about when doing yourself a mischief! Sounds like it's progressing though which is the main thing, keep focusing on that You'll soon be up and running in no time. Good luck with it all.

[ZRX61]

The compression is because my broken leg is massively swollen compared to the other. I mean, I never had skinny thighs, but my calves and ankles were quite neat not anymore on the left side LOL

Watch out for compartment syndrome.

[Noggin]

Don't know that anyone is interested really, but this morning I found the surgeons write up (on a health app - I didn't even know it would get that sort of info ) and translated it to see what they actually did/found - kinda scary, absolutely a proper job!

Luckily it seems that the outside ligament and the ACL was rescued, but still . . . .

It seems that they used temporary screws for something then took them out, so I'll have to ask about that!! They did obviously leave plenty of meccano, so I'm guessing they needed that bit held in place before doing the final fix Probably didn't have a suitable vice to hand

Diagnosis:
Complex fracture of the proximal tibia
Side: left
Indication:
Osteosynthesis with plate and screws
Suturing of the lateral meniscus and the distal end of the ACL

Implants:
AXSOS proximal medial and lateral tibial plate, STRYKER, titanium, AXSOS screw system
3.5/4
AXSOS single-screw system, STRYKER, titanium, 3.5/4

Procedure:
7-step chlorhexidine disinfection
Antibiotic prophylaxis: CEFAZOLINE 2 g
Tourniquet: thigh
Type of anesthesia: spinal anesthesia
Median skin incision
Layer-by-layer soft tissue dissection
Progressive hemostasis
On the medial side
Preserving the LCLand the insertion of the goosefoot tendons as much as possible
Opening of the superficial bundle of the LCL in the direction of the fibers
Performing a submeniscal arthrotomy

Injury assessment:
Medial meniscus contused but intact
Simple separation-type lesion of the medial plateau cartilage
Fracture reduction (anterior and posterior epiphyseal blocks)
Temporary pinning
Placement of 3.5-mm diameter single screws
Verification of fracture reduction and hardware placement using a fluoroscope, as well as visually
The epiphysis/metaphysis/diaphysis complex is then reduced on the medial side
Placement of a medial osteosynthesis plate to stabilize the reduction
Re-verification using a fluoroscope

- We then proceed to the lateral side
Incision of the subcutaneous tissue, the fascia lata, and the anterolateral tibial fascia
Roughening of the lateral surface of the tibia
Access to the fracture site, with minimal periosteal stripping
Debridement and irrigation of the fracture site
Access to the external displacement by spreading the lateral fragment in an open book position

Injury assessment:
Lateral meniscus torn from its capsular insertion and dislocated within the fracture site
Major comminuted injury to the lateral plateau cartilage with significant loss of bone substance
The base of the ACL is partially torn
Elevation of the lateral articular surface and temporary pinning
Filling of the metaphyseal bone defect with bone substitute
Reduction of the separated lateral fragment
Temporary pinning
Placement of an osteosynthesis plate
Placement of locking screws in the epiphyseal region, parallel to the joint space
Placement of distal cortical screws
Removal of temporary pins
Fluoroscopic examination confirms proper fracture reduction and correct placement
of implants, particularly the absence of joint disruption
Thorough irrigation
Hemostasis assessment
Meniscus suturing with OPTIME 2 suture
Suturing of the ACL root with OPTIME 2 suture (using the intact portion); good ACL tension
Layer-by-layer tissue closure with closure of the submeniscal arthrotomy, and closure of the fascia lata with
X-shaped sutures using OPTIME 2 suture

[Noggin]

Yeech, you really don't fuck about when doing yourself a mischief! Sounds like it's progressing though which is the main thing, keep focusing on that You'll soon be up and running in no time. Good luck with it all.

I'm sure I've said it before but my parents always said, if you're going to do something, do it properly !!

This probably isn't what they meant, but hey, just doing as I'm told !!

[Noggin]

Again, possibly (probably?) TMI, but I find these images seriously interesting!! A major bonus of the system here is that the patient gets all the info, especially images!!
I almost had to use bribery to get similar images of my shoulder in the uk but eventually the doctor left the room long enough for me to get a couple of photos!!!
Here they gave me a paper with a link (and a scan code) and I logged in and got it all

Despite the horrifc images, the physios are seriously happy at the flexion (the right word?) of my knee - the fact that I could get to 90 degrees within a couple of days and can still do that a week after I got here, even with the biggest most solid bruising (hematomas?) especially in my calf, has raised eyebrows in a happy way

Hopefully that bodes well for a decent (if not quick) rehab

[crust]

Wow, you've done a real number on that knee. Well and truly fucked up, top work.
Looks like you're getting value for money out of the French health service.

Time for wheel chair hospital exploration, look in on other patients, suck air through teeth and shake head.

You're a biker so I expect a record breaking recovery and pics of you hobbling around trying to get the monster soonish with vids of you riding around with a straight leg and a crutch by the end of the summer.

[Noggin]

Wow, you've done a real number on that knee. Well and truly fucked up, top work.
Looks like you're getting value for money out of the French health service.

Time for wheel chair hospital exploration, look in on other patients, suck air through teeth and shake head.

You're a biker so I expect a record breaking recovery and pics of you hobbling around trying to get the monster soonish with vids of you riding around with a straight leg and a crutch by the end of the summer.

LOL. When the doc in the resort said I'd exploded my knee, I thought it was just a different way of using the word (so many words are the same but not used quite the same). But no, it is actually exploded !!

Need to be more brave and go explore and talk to people (lacking in oomf at the mo!) - and if I still have a straight leg and need a crutch by the summer I will make a formal complaint!!

But with some luck and a following wind, I should be able to send photos of me at a load of the cols over the summer

[Skub]

Reminds me,I must get a good shin bone and make a good dose of stock.

[Cousin Jack]

Reminds me,I must get a good shin bone and make a good dose of stock.

French hospitals might have some to spare.

[Noggin]

Reminds me,I must get a good shin bone and make a good dose of stock.

French hospitals might have some to spare.

They told me they screwed all mine back in place!!!

[Horse]

Reminds me,I must get a good shin bone and make a good dose of stock.

French hospitals might have some to spare.

They told me they screwed all mine back in place!!!

Have a close look at your next scan. Any marrow left inside?

[Noggin]

French hospitals might have some to spare.

They told me they screwed all mine back in place!!!

Have a close look at your next scan. Any marrow left inside?

Pretty sure one of the CT scans shows the inside - but that was before the op