TPF injury and story

Accident happened during a 7-day cruise to Bermuda, on the 4th day I was riding a Moped and broke too fast, slamming straight into the pavement with the moped landing on top of me.

Day of Accident: 04/25/2019

Decided to stay on my cruise and finish my trip as I wanted to enjoy what I could before heading back to the states.

As soon as I got up I went to the hospital, only to find out that they still could not operate due to the swelling in my knee. They wanted to make sure it had gone down before operating.

FINDINGS AND IMPRESSION:

Displaced comminuted fracture of the lateral tibial plateau with 1 cm depression with extension into the tibial spines, posterior aspect of the medial tibial plateau and posterior proximal tibial diaphysis.

Moderate size lipohemarthrosis in the knee joint.

No dislocation in the knee.

No additional fractures in the rest of the right leg of right foot.

No suspicious osseous lesions erosive changes.

Day of Surgery: 5/06/2019

Was admitted to pain management overnight as I could not talk much/use bathroom due to anesthesia not wearing off and I wouldn't stop crying and throwing up due to the effects of pain medication they gave me. (I was on morphine, percocets, oxy).

Release from hospital: 05/07/2019

I had 2 metal plates and 8 screws placed inside of me.

The week returning home was the hardest. It hurt so much to even move a little, pain medication was taken for 6 days. I was taking percocet every 3-4 hours and just sleeping the ENTIRE week if it wasn't crying. Could not get into the shower or even bathroom for the first week. Leg hurt like heck whenever I was using the toilet. (It got much better and soon I was usually a small stool with 2 pillows on top to keep it elevated, to make it a bit easier for myself). Family was around me, thank god, and washed me down with wet clothes until I was able to crawl into the bath myself (after 5 days I was finally able to crawl into the tub, felt so good afterwards).

After the first week, I was able to start hopping around pain free. Only problem was that it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to sleep in the immobilizer. The only time that I fell asleep was when I had taken a lot of medication and was exhausted. I could not get into a comfortable position because I NEVER slept on my back and I also had to keep my leg elevated which was extremely uncomfortable.

Finally, 2 weeks after the surgery, I went back for my Post Op and they removed my stitches(2 incisions) and placed me in a hinged brace which would allow me to bend my knee freely, as I could. Started physical therapy during my third week.

My leg was NOT straight at all when I arrived to my therapists, but after one session and some hands on work for an hour, he managed to get it down to perfectly straight, if not 1-2 degrees off and I was extremely happy since I did not want to limp in the future due to leg not being straight (compartment syndrome).

During my third week of therapy, I began to bend the knee and I was only able to bend my knee back to 88 degrees (free will).

I was given sets of exercises to do every single day. Some days I slacked and was too depressed to do anything. All I wanted to do was melt into my bed and lay there. Some days I worked extremely hard and did double or triple whatever they asked me to do, or just did it through out the day. This made me realize how important it was to keep a good mental state as it would motivate me more.

During my 4th - 5th week of therapy: I returned after doing new exercises and stretching lots I reached 131 degrees on my own free will and my leg was perfectly straight.

6th week: I reached 142 degrees (free will) on the surgical left leg, and he measured my good leg(right) and I was 148 degrees. He was extremely happy with my results and told me to stop stretching my leg and that the last few degrees would be something I could work on if I wanted to after.

I had SO much muscle atrophy, so my therapist wanted me to start a new therapy called BFR. Blood Flow Restriction therapy would allow me to use low levels of weights while ultimately still getting the same progress as using heavy weights.

I started BFR therapy and I was able to complete 3 sets, which was exhausting.

I also went to a follow up appointment with my surgeon who told me I would be able to start weight bearing if my finals X-Rays on 7/17/2019 looked good as I was healing well and my rotation was doing well. That would mark 9 weeks after surgery, instead of the original date that I was set for 8/7/2019.

This is my current journey so far! Hope this helps and I look forward to talking to you all ❤️

I do have to note something: After my leg was unwrapped and I was placed inside the hinged brace, my leg developed disgusting red, itchy spots all over the surgical leg. It was completely splatted with these red, hive like blotches from where my leg was wrapped (little above the knee to down to the ankle).

I went to Urgent Care, and the doctor diagnosed me with a rash and made me take steroids for an ENTIRE week, only to finally end up going to a Dermatologist who stated it was Folliculitis and gave me 2 forms of antibiotics (oral and ointment)..... (left with a bunch of dark brown spots, but no more of the rash since week 5).

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