5 replies to this topic

[sydneywheels]

Hello

I recently fractured my right ankle transferring from my commode to wc. I now have a trimalleoloar fracture (outside, inside and above ankle fractures). Whilst I felt nothing, the sound of cracking and tearing was amazingly loud. It sweeld like a balloon withing minutes.

My gf took me to casualty and I was first seen by a Registrar, x-rayed and told I had a very significant fracture that would need specialist attention. The registrar called the orthopedic consultant regsitrar who came down a few hours later and said:

"I've seen your x-rays, they are pretty significant fractures. Ordinarily we would operate to provide greater bone integrity and functionality, but given you have complete sci and there is no likelihodd you will walk again and need to have the ankle properly aligned, I would recommend we simply manipulate the bones manually and put you in a backslab splint for the next week or so and see how things are progressing. In your chair you shouldn't notice any difference once the bones heal..."

Has anyone else had this experience? Should I seek a second opinion?

It was pretty sobering. I know there are many sci issues and I am receiving many treatements for a variety of things at the moment, but I mistakenly thoguth that apart from baldder, pressure sore issues, the rest of me would be treated medically like the rest of the AB population...but apparently not?

[gordonr]

Hi Sydney,

Please forgive my ignorance, but what is a Registrar?

In any case, what you really have to look out for with fractures in casts is sores. I had a fracture of both bones just above the ankle, and I very rapidly developed a heel sore. The solution is to fit the cast in such a way that the heel does not touch at all.

The Doctor first fitted me for a removable plastic splint, and then put on a plaster temporary until the splint was ready. Only a week I think, but it is a good thing we got the plaster off then, because the sore was already well along. Also, the plastic splint didn't fit with the extra padding I had to put in to push the heal of the back. But in the end it worked out allright. Six weeks to heal the fracture. Three months to heal the sore.

I was interested to learn that bones heal even without being perfectly immobilized. I took the splint off all the time to rest the skin and inspect.

You see the doctor was aware that just putting on a standard cast for a month is very dangerous for people like us.

As for functionality, who cares? What you want though is a good joint, and I don't know how long you have been in a chair, but osteoporosis is an issue because the bones are not exercised. As the doctor said to me, "Don't worry. If you don't get a good joint, I'll bolt it together".

Good Luck,

Gordon

[Doodle]

Sydney.

You definately want to get out of the backslab asap. Luckily I spoke to the spinal unit after the orthopeadic surgeon put me in a plaster cast. I ended getting a fibre glass cast moulded to the shape of my leg and it had velcro straps so you could remove it and rest the leg! I had a spiral fracture to my right tibia, and similar to you they said no surgery, as if they tried to pin it, the bone would splinter, my bone ended up healing straight. But I was told similar to you in the fact I wouldnt be weight bearing that there wasnt any real need for the bone to heal straight, I was concerned as even though I knew I wouldnt be walking, I still wanted to have normal treatment.

I was in cast for 5months. Took along time for my fracture to heal.

If you haven't already, seek an opinion from your spinal consultant!

[Dave Bishopstone]

"It was pretty sobering. I know there are many sci issues and I am receiving many treatements for a variety of things at the moment, but I mistakenly thoguth that apart from baldder, pressure sore issues, the rest of me would be treated medically like the rest of the AB population...but apparently not"?
[/quote]

My son sustained a spiral fracture to his femur, the Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon operated and plated and pinned the bone, his GP followed this up by a bone density scan and referral to another Consultant who recommended treatment to improve bone density or prevent it becoming any worse. So it seems some Consultants do not see SCI as a reason not to provide full treatment.

[sydneywheels]

Thanks so much for all your advice. I will follow up with specialist.