The Season is NOT over, Compound Tibia Fracture

**BULLDOZER** · 02-09-2008, 08:29 AM

Long time lurker, and not what I wanted for my first post, but it is what it is.
I wanted to have my first post be a HUGE TR, but instead I am in week 5 of my rehab for a compound fracture of my tibia. I have 7 screws and a plate on my tibia, just below the knee. I went from deep powder to wind crap at speed, skidded into a tree and slammed into my leg. The patrol got to me 20 minutes later, with blood trickling out of my boot. I had to hold onto my leg with both hands to keep the bone from popping out of the skin. After a sketchy toboggan ride and a snowmobile out, I had a long surgery and a night in the hospital.

I have been in a straight leg brace and crutches for 5 weeks. The x-rays show great bone growth and I am beginning to walk in the pool and do the spin bike. The knee was not injured and there was no ligament or tendon damage. I start physical therapy next week and will do anything to help this my leg regain strength.

I would appreciate any advice on methods to improve the recovery time and experiences anyone might have with getting back in the game after this type of break. The meds and beer have helped pass the time for a while, but I am somewhat masochistic and look at TRs and snow reports from each of the huge storm cycles we are getting. I had a great early season in the backcountry, but jones for more. It will still be a deep and snowy spring in Colorado, so I want to get back on my splitboard by March if possible. The avalanche cycle should subside and and I can contribute some more productive TRs to the board.

Thanks for the help maggots,

stay safe

**Huckwheat** · 02-09-2008, 10:23 AM

Wow man....sounds like a rough injury. In the grand sceme of things though, it probably better than blowing a knee (in terms of recovery time....knee is a pretty solid year before 100&#37

.....but that is just glass half full talk.

I have had knee recovery, but dont actually know about bone stuff. I love doing various balance work....balance boards, physio ball standing, and just tons of core work (not directly knee related, but ultimately will help riding in general). Good luck with your recovery.

Oh yeah....worthless without pics, JONG.

**BULLDOZER** · 02-09-2008, 12:29 PM

Here are a couple of pictures of my post-op x-rays. They don't show all 7 screws, but the 3 fractures are evident.

I'd rather be chest deep in powder today. At least walking in water is a step closer to walking on frozen water and the senior citizens pool exercise classes are a great social outlet on Friday nights.

**Endlessseason** · 02-09-2008, 03:04 PM

Cripes, mang. Horrible sounding injury. I've only had my knees done as well, so I can't offer any help other than to say this will someday be a distant memory.

Best wishes for a full recovery!

**Machete** · 02-09-2008, 06:07 PM

Wow, that's earily similar to what happened to me. Two days after Christmas I hit a tree with my left knee in a very similar manner to what you described. Tibial plateau fracture for me, not as bad as yours looks.
I've got most of my range of motion back in my knee, but haven't yet put any weight on it.

Not skiing really sucks.
Get well soon!

**StingRay** · 02-11-2008, 07:28 PM

My only advice is once you get full range of motion back, stretch as much as possible. Atorphy is a bitch!

**comish** · 02-12-2008, 12:56 AM

Had compound fracture of Tib / Fib in high school. I was in a cast for 4 or 5 months and on crutches for 6. Good news is bone heals stronger than before so in the grand scheme of things I think that is a better injury that blown knees.

I would get on rehab and therapy as quick as possible. I had a crazy old super conservative Dr. and he wasn't into rehad and sports, just fixing the basic problem. Learned a lot about Orthopods and who you don't want through that experience.

You will be back better than new next year, but yeah, atrophy is a bitch so like most of these things, PT is your friend.

**soylent green** · 02-12-2008, 05:08 PM

You'll be just fine as long as you don't lose for job for downloading pron in the padded room at work.

**Rockband** · 02-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by comish

I would get on rehab and therapy as quick as possible. I had a crazy old super conservative Dr. and he wasn't into rehad and sports, just fixing the basic problem. Learned a lot about Orthopods and who you don't want through that experience.

You will be back better than new next year, but yeah, atrophy is a bitch so like most of these things, PT is your friend.

Completely agree, with my past and present incidents. Both times I have had really good surgeries with everything put back together perfectly, which is key but my PT has been on the lacking side. The longer you wait to get back at it the longer your recovery will be. At the same time you don't want to re-injure yourself. I would follow all docs recommendations until he clears you to weight bear, then go after it as much as your injury can handle.

With my experience there seems to be a struggle between the doctors who are coming from a purely healing perspective; and the physical therapists who want you exercising the shit out of your leg to gain mobility. Also if you are young in shape and into pushing your body to get better the recovery will go much smoother.