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Tuesday, February 18. 2014

Tree-skiing in middle age

Guys gotta do what guys gotta do, and sometimes they have to get banged up in the process. I applaud these male efforts - and female efforts - to remain in the game and not to quit despite the risks to bones, pride, etc.


A medical colleague emailed me a photo of his own left tibia this weekend, acquired when skiing at Jay Peak. Ouch. An MD degree is not required for this diagnosis. For a layperson, this is a version of a "broken leg." This will need pins or a plate or something. Some metal and some screws, and I think he'll miss a day or two of work.



Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Medical at 13:50 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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The fibula is also fractured. Typical "boot top" fracture.
#1 Mike_K (Link) on 2014-02-18 14:18 (Reply)
That is exactly right.
#1.1 Dr. B. on 2014-02-18 14:22 (Reply)
As I understand it one of the "problems" as we age is the loss of bone density. This is more pronounced in women than men, but men still lose it.

The remedy for this, and for many other things, is exercise. In this case squats and deadlifts, as well as some sort of moderate impact exercise.

In fact I'd bet powerlifting 2x a week, and a vigorous game of tennis once or twice a week (impact, mobility, kenestetic awareness etc.) would go a long way to mitigating the frequency and severity of these sorts of injuries as well as reduce recovery times.

I need to find a place to (re)-learn tennis.

Then again I use skinny skis to go up hills.
#2 William O. B'Livion on 2014-02-18 15:46 (Reply)
hormone based contraceptives also reduce bone density.

they also affect (as anything else that interferes with endocrine system) the heart, liver and kidneys leading to increases in diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Something generally left out of studies of diet on health.
#2.1 figment on 2014-02-19 07:09 (Reply)
Mortise is fine. NWB after ORIF for not too long. I would use the kneeler in the office if it were me.

No way to avoid injury in my book. Sit on the couch and die or be active and die happy.
#3 BrianInNorthCarolina on 2014-02-18 17:48 (Reply)
Ditto to that.

Almost broke something trying to cross a slippery stream in the jungle. Like a running back, I was so focused on catching my camera that I let my body just crash on the rocks. Camera was ok.
#3.1 Bird Dog on 2014-02-18 18:03 (Reply)
My daughter-in law got almost the same thing, at the other end of the bone, from a motorcycle mishap. She'll be back on the track ASAP, because YOLO. I have to admit that I agree with her.
#4 raincityjazz on 2014-02-18 21:03 (Reply)
Oh, quit whining and walk it off.
#5 model_1066 on 2014-02-18 21:16 (Reply)
Harrumph, in my day....the GP would have pulled on your leg while the resident applied the plaster!
What severity of a break constitutes "pins and plates"?
Steve
#6 Steve on 2014-02-18 21:56 (Reply)
That's why GPs shouldn't treat tib fib fractures. This spiral fracture would likely displace once swelling subsided if plaster cast is used. Brian's correct - ORIF is preferred tx. Simple casting is great for some fractures, but when unacceptable displacement is more likely than not, other methods should be used.
#6.1 Mike M on 2014-02-18 23:35 (Reply)
"I think he'll miss a day or two of work."

after ORIF surgery to fix my leg broken in 3 places (tibia, fibula, talus) , I was 'prodded' by my ortho to consider surgery on my achilles, due to muscle/tendon atrophy during the 3month rehab period.

He said without it, I wouldn't be able to run a marathon, which is something I wouldn't have been able to do before breaking three bones in my leg/ankle, anyway.
#7 figment on 2014-02-19 07:17 (Reply)

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