Compound (open) tibia and fibia

[keith t]

Two weeks ago we were riding in the sea at a local spot - we had only been there about 15 mins. I jumped a wave, and as I landed there was a huge cracking sound. Turns out i ended up with an open tibia and fibia fracture - the tibia broke in two places about 2" apart - bloody agony. Fortunately my brother was really close so grabbed my ski to allow me to ride back in (we were about 1/2 mile off - it took 3 mins to get back in) - It hurt like F**k when my foot strayed into the jetwash and also as the waves rolled over. Luckily the paramedics arrived within 5 minutes of ringing them, I went to hospital and was in theatre for 6 hours whilst they pinned my leg back together. Luckily? we had the cameras running so heres the footage and pics of the resultant carnage to my leg. The X Rays are on order (I have to pay £10 to get copies)

I strongly believe that if it wasnt for my soccer shin pad my leg would have been in a much worse state.

I am now sat here pondering if i will ever ski again

Keith

 

[Rickster]

Did you come out of the tray?

Looking at the video it didn't look like anything went awry...

Good luck on the rehab!

 

[Flash-FX]

That SUX!! Been there, done that.... Good luck and a quick recovery .......(with no infections). It took me 6 months to heal and get back on the ski (carving turns, no surf). For therapy, I bought a mountain bike and pedaled it forever.....

I wish I had my break on video....I would have called it the "Meatball Story".

 

[akula]

ya broke my tib/fib snomobiling .if you use tabaco. quit it really cuts the recovery time down. i have a rod from my ankel to the knee. still ride sleds and skis like mad .good luck with healing.

 

[kraqus]

What happened? I can't really tell from the video footage.
Did the Tail landed on your leg?
Sorry to hear that Bro....wish you a speedy recovery

Benny

 

[keith t]

Not exactly sure what happened, feet were firmly in footholes, all we can think is that the ski "kicked" as it landed (we were crossing waves at about 45 degrees) with the top of the foothole and the sidewall causing the two breaks. I feel i have had much worse landings - some that rattle the fillings in my teeth, than this - it must just have been all the shear forces coming together at exactly the right (wrong) moment.

Ive since seen video of soccer players going full steam down the pitch and breaking lower limbs when seemingly there is no issue, its just the angle of the foot, the studs holding the pitch, the speed and direction of the body all combined

Anyway, ive lots of time to sit and ponder

 

[ocdfreeride]

i did the same thing about 8 years ago. 4 pins 11 months later i was good. i wish you fast healing good luck :sad6:

 

[#ZERO]

I'm sitting here with a fractured right ankle myself but at 6:14 in the video when you said I BROKE MY FOLKIN' LAG I just about fell out of the chair. :chairfall:

Anyway hope you you're feeling better and wish you a quick recovery.

 

[Crab]

Broke my fib last year and my wrist 3 months ago on roll attempts gone bad, it was hard to watch the last part as I knew the wrist was toast right away......you will heal but the next 3 months are going to suck.

 

[tipafew]

I have a little fracture on the top of my Tibia right now from a landing in Pismo. Yours is a gazillion times worse. Ouch man.
Speedy recovery.

 

[keith t]

Good news is my consultant is happy with the recovery so far - bad news is he doesnt want me to weight bear yet & reckons 12 to 18 months before im good again. He says it happened because my leg was twisted in a shearing force and likened it to getting it caught in act wheel - my foot was jammed tight in the foothole, and as the ski landed it must have twisted - causing the break. My brother nanaged to get some snaps of the X rays.

 

[MADMAT]

Holy crap you guys those are bad.

as anyone ever had a gunwale smash your tail bone on a re-entry? I came down on it once in VA and was like oh man that could have been really bad.

 

[Odd Duck]

I've "cheeked" a gunwale, but never "cracked" it and I thought the same thing, "That could've been bad." I've also been tight in the wells and gotten a little torqued by the gunwale, but I've never gotten anything but a turf rash and a bruise from it. I guess I've been even luckier than I thought (picture me knocking wood right now).

 

[kraqus]

OK....I had to take a second look.
You were indeed at a VERY steep angle as you can see by the screenshot below.....

The thing is that I have been there too...
Luckily I have not gotten hurt but I tell you one thing I am going to be extra careful when taking big air......
It would have never occurred to me that an injury this bad could just happen from the leverage created against your leg.

Thanks for posting this, I am pretty sure a few peeps will also take notice.....

Benny

 

[GReenANt]

those soccer pads are a good idea to spread out the pressure when your shin hits while in footholds the foot holds definitely make me nervous from time to time. Like when i was farting around carving really sharp and my knee hit the water and was ripped back without holds my foot would have slipped out easy but it got strained a little nothing serious but made me a little more cautious

Ive since seen video of soccer players going full steam down the pitch and breaking lower limbs when seemingly there is no issue, its just the angle of the foot, the studs holding the pitch, the speed and direction of the body all combined

Anyway, ive lots of time to sit and ponder

in high school one of my best friends was doing some fake "parkour" (jumping off of playground equipment) and no one got hurt until a week later during the 100m at a track meet he crossed the finish line and planted his foot to slow down and snapped his femur. crazy thing about being so young was that he learned to do standing back flips about three months later with a rod in his femur.

 

[keith t]

When i built the ski i put 25mm underpad then 8mm then turfed it - i also put 8mm on the side of the foothole next to my ankle - i then "machined" a foot shape in the floor so that my foot was prevented from coming out sideways. the hole loosened up over the next few weeks, but if i kick my foot in its held good and tight, poss too tight. I also run a - 5.5" pole wich could have made my body angle to the ski change.

 

[keith t]

Kraqus, think you may have a very valid point there , we were also crossing the waves at an angle (they were closely stacked so we ran down the trough and turned towards the face once we had the engine reving sweet) think all this has unfortunately combined

 

[surfjunkie]

i hope no one has a camera running if i ever break anything. uke::17: you were pretty calm and the fact you could ride back in is impressive. i would most likely perish right there in the surf.



also one reason i'll never be a foothold guy.

 

[WILKEY]

dude get well. u were tough i would have just layed there and waited for the cg haha

 

[Kennay]

Holy crap was that painful to watch after seeing those pics. I'm glad it didn't turn out worse than it did. Wow.