79 Fork in Mashed Potatoes
The trauma surgeon presented his analysis of my situation after studying my x-rays of the shattered bone above my ankle. He drew specific attention to where the bottom two pins --of the six in my leg-- were attached.
He explained that this portion of my bone was extremely damaged and weak and couldn't take much pressure.
He illustrated his point by likening these two pins in my leg to a "fork stuck in mashed potatoes". --Stressing that the solidity of the pins drilled into the shattered portion of the tibia bone sorely lacked.
Continuing the illustration, he then likened the top 4 pins drilled into the upper part of my shinbone to being "two forks stuck in steak".
He firmly recommended that I lay off strong exercise of my ankle, explaining that while the weak area could perhaps handle the 4 lbs pressure that I'd been putting on it, it wouldn't be able to withstand the 40 lbs pressure that I would need to assert to get my foot and ankle to the point of flexibility that was needed.
This surgeon also warned that the exercising could have already damaged the area around the lower pins, and caused infection. He then momentarily focused on the complications of bone infection.
Further, he stressed that my bone was so fractured that the metal pins could break out of the bone.
I was not much comforted by all this, so I asked him what he would recommend should be done.
He responded, "Well, there is the passive approach --just letting the bone heal, which could leave you crippled.
"Or there is the aggressive approach, operating and inserting an internal metal brace in your lower leg, and removing the external one."
He ended by stressing the need for the second approach, alluding to the possibility of even losing my leg if I didn't!
He explained that this portion of my bone was extremely damaged and weak and couldn't take much pressure.
He illustrated his point by likening these two pins in my leg to a "fork stuck in mashed potatoes". --Stressing that the solidity of the pins drilled into the shattered portion of the tibia bone sorely lacked.
Continuing the illustration, he then likened the top 4 pins drilled into the upper part of my shinbone to being "two forks stuck in steak".
He firmly recommended that I lay off strong exercise of my ankle, explaining that while the weak area could perhaps handle the 4 lbs pressure that I'd been putting on it, it wouldn't be able to withstand the 40 lbs pressure that I would need to assert to get my foot and ankle to the point of flexibility that was needed.
This surgeon also warned that the exercising could have already damaged the area around the lower pins, and caused infection. He then momentarily focused on the complications of bone infection.
Further, he stressed that my bone was so fractured that the metal pins could break out of the bone.
I was not much comforted by all this, so I asked him what he would recommend should be done.
He responded, "Well, there is the passive approach --just letting the bone heal, which could leave you crippled.
"Or there is the aggressive approach, operating and inserting an internal metal brace in your lower leg, and removing the external one."
He ended by stressing the need for the second approach, alluding to the possibility of even losing my leg if I didn't!
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