Broken fib/non-union anyone?

[wardog]

Hello folks. I broke my tib/fib in March. The tib is OK with hardware but the fib never rejoined. I'm getting ready for this season. I've done some research to try to understand how the fib non-union will affect strength and stability in leg/knee/ankle, but if anyone has experience with this I'd really appreciate some insight.

[hev]

I broke only my fibula 10 years ago while park skiing. I actually managed to ski down and walk around on my broken leg for a couple days before going to the doctor. Breaking just my fibula was not at all bad for a broken leg. The tibia provided support and I never had to be casted. Mine healed successfully and I was skiing in May after breaking it in February. My boot cuff rode right on my fracture line which made me a bit nervous but it wasn't a problem while skiing. Balancing on my toes was always the most painful motion but again not a big deal in ski boots. Walking in ski boots was also a bit painful. That being said I was 18 and in great shape so the recovery time was very quick.

[wardog]

Hev, thanks for the news. I'm glad you healed well. I'll bet it felt strange walking around right after you broke it!

[FrozenKiwi]

I was wondering what DIN you were running, you said in the other thread that you had it cranked. I'm not saying you did anything wrong its just that a guy I know did the same break as you, while one of my friends skis on 15+ DIN with no troubles. So basically im just trying to find if its the way you fall+high DIN or just high DIN that causes the dreaded tib fib break.

Good luck with getting back skiing!

[wardog]

FrozenKiwi, I was on 174 K2 Mt Bakers with Dynafits, set at DIN 10. I'm 5' 8" 140 lbs and was carrying a 15 pound pack. This is my first ski injury ever.

I had the DIN cranked because we were skiing quite a bit of no-fall terrain. But the pitch where I fell was only 30 degrees.

[Crass3000]

Hello folks. I broke my tib/fib in March. The tib is OK with hardware but the fib never rejoined. I'm getting ready for this season. I've done some research to try to understand how the fib non-union will affect strength and stability in leg/knee/ankle, but if anyone has experience with this I'd really appreciate some insight.

I broke the tib (they rodded it) and had two breaks in the fib. I was starting to think it wasn't going to heal after about 4 months (the fibula) but it finally started showing progress on both breaks shortly after. It's hard for the tib/fib to heal quick since you don't want to put weight on the broken tib but need to put wieght on the broken fib to heal it. I assume your non-union must be just below the knee? Interested to see some x-rays if you could post them.

I was wondering what DIN you were running, you said in the other thread that you had it cranked. I'm not saying you did anything wrong its just that a guy I know did the same break as you, while one of my friends skis on 15+ DIN with no troubles. So basically im just trying to find if its the way you fall+high DIN or just high DIN that causes the dreaded tib fib break.

I'm 6'1 and 215lbs and only had a DIN of 6 when I did the tib/fib. I have never been injured skiing before. I'm convinced that there are just quirky falls where your binding is not going to release no matter how low/high your DIN is. Bindings are great but they're not perfect.

[wardog]

FrozenKiwi, in case you're curious: I was doing medium-radius turns in new untracked windblown snow, and at the apex of a turn the tip of my left ski hit an unseeable rock under the snow, and the ski twisted. I heard the bones break.

[wardog]

"I'm convinced that there are just quirky falls where your binding is not going to release no matter how low/high your DIN is."

I agree with that.

I'll try to get my x-rays andpost them here (it might take a while). Yes, I broke the fib close to the knee.

[FrozenKiwi]

Thanks guys, interesting stuff! Its weird how injuries happen when you least expect them, well all mine anyway (none on snow touch wood). Hearing bones break must be the worst sound.

How did you guys get out of your ski boot? That would be so painful.

[wardog]

Kiwi, my ski boot stayed on until I was in the hospital. By that time the Demerol was doing its job. Until the helicopter came I didn't move at all because it was too painful.

[Crass3000]

My boot came off without any painkillers in the ski patrol office. They had two guys on each side of the boot spreading it open. I wasn't looking forward to taking my foot out but it wasn't as bad as I imagined. Those guys did a good job!

[wtp]

Sounds similar to my injury 5 yrs back.

I broke the distal end off the tib, spiral fx'ed the fib, and dislocated my foot 90 degrees to the left. Good times.

I have 2 screws in my tibia, and it seems to have healed, aside from the screw heads grinding into my foot when I extend my knee too far forward over my foot. There is some limitation in range of motion from this, but I get by.

The fibula has a plate + 8 screws. I don't think it has ever totally rejoined since it pops like a knuckle sound, but halfway up to my calf. This is an interesting sensation.

I snowboard a bunch and ski a little, and it affects me mostly during sharp, quick impacts. Think hard edging on icy chunder or sometimes landing from (little) airs. Stability-wise it has not let me down yet, but I usually tape the whole ankle as this seems to help with soreness and swelling. If you don't know how to do figure 8s, Js, etc for ankle taping, it might be helpful to learn before the season starts. This is something you can fuck up if you go too tight or too loose, so practice and get it down before you go on a multiday BC tour or something.

For me it is a lifetime limiter, as I am very leery to take big airs or try spins. Your mileage may vary. FWIW, I broke it all in May, surgery in August to take out some screws, and was skiing/riding by late November. If I had it all to do over again, I would have sat out the early season and let it heal more.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about it.

[wardog]

WTP, thanks for the helpful news and for the PM offer. I'll ask questions here in case others might benefit from your answers. What exactly happens to you during sharp quick impacts? Enough pain or weakness or instability to cause a fall?

I too have limited forward flex of the ankle. It flexes fine to a certain point and then absolutely stops. It feels like a limitation of the bone structure, rather than a soft tissue problem.

Crass, my hat is off to you for handling the boot removal without painkillers.

Have a great season everyone!

[wtp]

It's all pain. I don't fall, but I get a nice shooting pain that makes me rethink my run selection. Also, if I bash icy bumps all day or get stupid in the park, I'll have more pain and more swelling later, sometimes for days, so it's definitely something I have learned to pay attention to.

Mostly I would say that I have to think a little more about where I'm going to ride any given day. I can always make it down whatever, but stupid choices mean cutting out at 1:00 instead of 3:00 or 4:00 and taking it easy for a few days afterwards. Icy moguls first run? Refrozen death cookies? No thanks. Slush, pow, windbuff? All day long no problem.

Your fibula doesn't really do a whole helluva lot as far as holding you up on its own, and ski/snowboard boots are better than a walking cast as far as stability goes, but pain for me is a pretty good indicator that I am getting a little too rowdy.

Good luck and don't let it bum you out.

[wardog]

Thanks, I'm not letting it bum me out. I've had so many fantastic days in the mountains that have strengthened my spirit, I feel lucky. I also feel lucky that I'll be able to ski some more, even if I have to be careful like you about where I go. I am more stoked this year than ever before. The biggest problem is that my wife worries so much. I love backcountry and she's always afraid I'll come home in a box. This injury is my first, so she's extra worried now.

No icy moguls for me, if there's a way around them. My knees were already shot before I broke my leg.

Some of the sensory nerves in my injured leg don't work any more, but I still get some strange sensations from the fibula. Maybe the dead nerves are a blessing.

Is your pain all in your fib, or some in your ankle too?