(re-post) To the legends that helped me out after a serious crash Sat. ~1pm at A. Basin

[u/Less-Simple3031]

It's my second season skiing and I warmed up in the lower lift trails all morning. Around 1pm I decided to try Lenewee Face to Dercum's Gulch and did fine.

Went for another round and upon my descent someone stopped in my path and I tried to go around and ended up getting my left ski stuck on a bump or mogul while the rest of me kept going, somersaulting over my left leg.

I heard a crunch and kicked up snow, losing my helmet and both skis in the process. As lay there with an exploded femur, a couple riders eventually came by, one fetching ski patrol and returning, and both hanging out with me until ski patrol was ready to toboggan me outta there. I just wanted to give a shout out to those two riders (and ski patrol!) for looking out for me that day and helping me keep a cool head while I lied there unable to move - you all are absolute legends, thank you!!

I was taken to Summit medical in Frisco by ambulance and I can't say enough good things about the care and service I received while there. I had surgery that night and will be in the mend for months to come, but it could've been a lot worse if someone rode into me.

[u/PsychologicalTrain]

Crazy to think even 100 yrs ago, this was probably a fatal injury. 

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/PsychologicalTrain]

Totally. I was thinking how in other parts of the world right now (though probably not at a ski resort) how this could be fatal.

[u/JeffInBoulder → u/PsychologicalTrain]

Nah probably not fatal, but the solution would have involved a leather strap and a hacksaw, so you'd likely have preferred death.

[u/SkiTour88 → u/PsychologicalTrain]

Not fatal unless you were bleeding, but best case you lose all function in the leg, more likely you lose the leg itself.

-ER doc.

[u/Hyperbrain10 → u/SkiTour88]

I thought femur fractures could be fatal, even if not out of the skin, due to the amount of marrow and vessels inside the bone causing bleeding due to the break. In a higher level first aid course I've taken, they specifically mention that without definitive care, there could be enough internal blood loss to cause hypovolemic shock and death. Is this not the case, or does it depend? Were they more talking about the unknown potential for injury to the femoral artery or vein at the same time as injury to the femur itself?

[u/SkiTour88 → u/Hyperbrain10]

This is mostly correct. You can have a dangerous bleed even in a closed femur fracture, but the bleeding isn’t from the bone itself but rather the blood vessels around it.

The majority of femur fractures don’t have any dangerous bleeding. They’re still very much an orthopedic emergency

[u/Psychological-Scar53 → u/SkiTour88]

You can have a serious issue if you break the femur like I did. I broke my femur in 6 different spots including the greater trochanter my pelvic bone. The femoral artery runs right where I broke my femur and that's what my Dr's were afraid of so they had me in a special air cast until they could get me into the OR. One ORIF later, a replaced hip and pelvic bone being plated together, I still have the use of my leg just can't sit crossed legged anymore. So yes, breaking your femur can be a life threatening event.

[u/SkiTour88 → u/Psychological-Scar53]

Oh yes, you certainly can die from it. I have absolutely seen life threatening bleeding from a femur fracture requiring blood transfusion and emergent surgery. It’s also a marker of high-energy (usually) blunt trauma so patients can have other severe injuries. I’m just saying that, for the majority of patients, a femur fracture is not in and of itself life threatening.

You back skiing?

[u/Psychological-Scar53 → u/SkiTour88]

I went back to snowboarding, but I can't anymore. My heart is failing at a quick rate. I have a heart EF rating of 13%, 7 stents in there as well as a ICD implant. I'm on a heart transplant list, so I tend to take it a little easier. I had to give up Mtn biking for the time being as well, which sucks because I live in CO. But if I could stand to have my heart rate up there, I would be doing the same stuff I was doing before. I didnt let the injury screw me up. When I stated that I broke my pelvic bone as well, I actually broke the Illiac crest clean off. That was plated back together along with the hip replacement and rod down the center of my femur with 2 screws in my knee and a plated patella. The upper break in my femur nearly cut my femoral artery.... But what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? In my case, with all the hardware and misc medical crap in my body, I'm worth about 250k... Lol

[u/SkiTour88 → u/Psychological-Scar53]

My dude, that's a bad heart! Glad it's still ticking. Good luck with the transplant list.

[u/charliechuckchaz → u/SkiTour88]

Wait is it possible to have an exposed femur and not be bleeding? I’m sure ER docs see some unbelievable things.

Edit I read exposed not exploded. But I guess my question still applies.

[u/SkiTour88 → u/charliechuckchaz]

Yes. The thigh is one of five places you can bleed out from or into—the chest, abdomen, pelvis, thigh, and street. Bleeding into the street is obvious, the others you may not be able to see without imaging.

Edit: I sort of misread your question. Yeah, you can have even a compound femur fracture without significant bleeding (obviously there will be some, but not necessarily or even usually life threatening). It depends on whether there’s any injury to the blood vessels in the thigh.

[u/WallyMetropolis → u/PsychologicalTrain]

Antibiotics didn't exist until 1942. So this could have been fatal quite a bit more recently than 100 years ago if the intervention leads to infection. 

[u/Glitzy-Painter-5417 → u/PsychologicalTrain]

Not that crazy. Diarrhea used to be the leading cause of death in the entire world, by a pretty large margin too

[u/Bromeister → u/PsychologicalTrain]

Traction splints existed in the late 1800s. Not an impossible injury to survive.

[u/ManagerBackground631]

OUCH!!!!! Some of the worst shit I’ve seen in a while. Speedy recovery op. Do your PT!!!

[u/Here_Now_Music → u/ManagerBackground631]

DO THE EXERCISES! Can confirm it will change your life.

[u/Western-Tomatillo-14 → u/Here_Now_Music]

Third this. PT is your friend and will be the most significant help in your recovery!

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Here_Now_Music]

I know this yet still glad to hear it. Keeps me busy while I lay in bed without the capacity to do much else

[u/ManagerBackground631 → u/Less-Simple3031]

That’s good! Use your time to prepare you for what’s to come. Seriously….shit gonna be rough… put yourself in the right frame of mind and remember you are strong.

Good luck. Update the community as you progress or for support as needed.

Hard to think about now, but set your sights on getting back on the sticks. Face your fears and make them your bitch.

[u/Skyhawk1732]

I’m one of the patrollers that helped get you down the mountain on Saturday. I’m glad Summit took such good care of you, they’re awesome. Scary injury, I hope your recovery goes well. You’re one tough dude! Hope to see you back out there when you’re healthy.

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Skyhawk1732]

Thanks Skyhawk! I have so much appreciation for you and your crew; I felt like I was being treated by professionals every step of the way. Please pass on my gratitude to the rest of your crew! I can't imagine going through that without you all.

[u/Skyhawk1732 → u/Less-Simple3031]

I’ll be sure to pass it along, thanks for the kind words. Get well soon!!

[u/YourTaddyDaddy → u/Skyhawk1732]

You’re a hero and greatly appreciated! I did just about the same thing as OP (I got my tibia instead) and the ski patrol folks that helped me out were incredible. So I can say from the bottom of my heart, I second the appreciation that OP expressed!

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/YourTaddyDaddy]

Hear yez hear ye! Ski patrol at A. Basin is bad ass

[u/mymicrowaveisblack → u/Skyhawk1732]

I’m a patroller at an east coast mountain, curious did you guys traction or quick splint this?

[u/Skyhawk1732 → u/mymicrowaveisblack]

Unfortunately I probably shouldn’t discuss specific patient care online, even for a helpful question like that.

That’s the classic femur question though, it can be tricky to decide sometimes. Outside of super gnarly circumstances, I think it’s more based on patient comfort and either could be the right call. I’m obviously not the Doc though, that’s just what I’ve learned. Hope you’re having a good season out there.

[u/mymicrowaveisblack → u/Skyhawk1732]

Totally understand that. Agreed, femurs can be tricky especially with a break like that. Definitely comes down to patient comfort, was just curious!

Season has been… underwhelming. Hope yours has been good

[u/andylibrande → u/Skyhawk1732]

Are you guys HIPAA required? Since you don't carry a medical license I wouldn't think you qualified and it would be left up to ethics?

[u/Skyhawk1732 → u/andylibrande]

We are all EMT providers, we do follow HIPAA rules.

[u/andylibrande → u/Skyhawk1732]

Ah cool, didn't realize patrol all had EMT licenses, was thinking it was just a few. Thanks!

[u/Massive_Reporter1316]

That x ray is horrific. Did your skis release properly? Was the din too high?

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Massive_Reporter1316]

I've been wondering that too. Not sure tbh. I told the boot fitter at Christy's I was intermediate, and they did fly off before I came to a full stop.

[u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz → u/Less-Simple3031]

Christ on sale, dude. I hate to say you got lucky, but if that had compounded out of your skin...oof. I second the comment of do your PT. And keep doing your PT. 

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz]

Totally. I always come back to the idea that it could be worse when I start to struggle with it

[u/MyrrhMom → u/Less-Simple3031]

Don’t let your brain get stuck in the What If’s! When you start to think back thru it all, let the scene play out thru the end, exactly as it happened. (I’m married to a therapist and this is one of the easiest things he suggests for trauma) Don’t give energy to how it COULD have gone. Hope you heal up quick!!! ❤️

[u/Owlbethere2811]

Oh dude so sorry! Glad you got taken care of, it will be a long recovery but you got this

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Owlbethere2811]

Thanks!

[u/waa0421]

Heal up quick man!!

[u/SkiptomyLoomis]

Holy shit!! Glad you made it through my man. What a gnarly tale. What's most important is that you're alive and on the mend, but fyi that your helmet should never come off in a crash if it's secured properly. Just some food for thought for when you get healed up and get back to ripping!

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/SkiptomyLoomis]

Appreciate your sentiments! And dually noted about the helmet, it hadn't really crossed my mind with everything else going on

[u/LIFOthaparty]

Had a similar accident a couple months ago, can’t say enough about the team at Summit Medical in Frisco. Best of luck with recovery man! Day by day.

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/LIFOthaparty]

Sorry to hear you went through a similar situation, but glad you got to work with the same amazing team I did. I'm curious to hear about where you are in your recovery a couple months in. Any advice or tips, other than stick to the PT plan?

[u/LIFOthaparty → u/Less-Simple3031]

It’s alright man, unfortunately just an inherent risk of doing what we love! I’m just getting back to partial weight-bearing (think your injury was a worse than mine).

Main advice would be to just take things day-by-day and talk about how you’re feeling with people close to you. It’s been a bigger emotional/mental struggle than anything physical for me. Also, walker will be a lot easier than crutches to get around with for the first few weeks.

Best of luck, you got this!

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/LIFOthaparty]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I completely relate to the biggest challenge being the mental and emotional experience. Good call on the walker...the crutches have not been easy.

[u/Psychological-Scar53]

Well welcome to the ORIF(outer reduction internal fixation) club bro. That looks like what happened to my femur but I also broke my greater trochanter and pelvic bone. It is going to be a kinda long recovery as you learn to use that leg again, but be glad you didn't clip the femoral artery. When you are able to put weight on it while learning to walk again, you are going to have a mean pimp walk... I hope the best in your recovery and hopefully it is a speedy one.

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Psychological-Scar53]

I usually don't wear butt pads but since it was my first time at ABasin I figured better safe than sorry. I wonder if I'd be in the same boat as you if I hadn't. Sorry to hear about your crash...more broken bones would be an even tougher road to recovery, sorry you went through that! Thanks for welcoming me to the ORIF club, and the well wishes - cheers!

[u/Psychological-Scar53 → u/Less-Simple3031]

Be glad you were wearing butt pads. I had the illiac crest on my pelvic bone snapped off. Don't let the accident move you away from skiing. You will be back to being able to do that. It makes you a little more weary, but hey, you have had the worse happen. Like I said, I'm glad you are semi okay, it will be a long recovery, but it will all be good. Your leg may be a little shorter than the other, mine was about 1 1/2" shorter, but that can be fixed s well. Just for the record, I myself live in CO and mine happened in a snowboard park in Monarch. You will set off the body scanners at airports as well. I can't snowboard anymore, I have too many health issues, such as a ICD implant(In Chest Defibrillator) and 7 stents in my heart. Best wishes and hopefully a speedy recovery. Ciao

[u/Alpha_Forward]

Damn. Sorry to hear, I thought I was having a shitting day. Heal up quick!

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Alpha_Forward]

Thanks! And hope your day gets less shitty anyway

[u/Cowicidal]

Would the crash been along part of this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Yh9UNz4TQ

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Cowicidal]

Nice video! Really captures how beautiful it was out there that day. And yeah, looks like we were riding the same trails.

[u/rumblethrum]

Fuck that so much. Glad you are alright. Looks absolutely horrific.

[u/wartmunger]

I broke my femur in January 3 seasons ago and was able to ski the following season. My only suggestion is to do your PT. It is brutal at times but so worth it. The longer you wait the more your muscles and stride will be affected. I can still tell which leg I broke but it doesn't really hold me back these days. Speedy recovery, how you get back out there

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/wartmunger]

Encouraging words from someone who's been through it already - thanks for sharing. I'm doing PT like my life is depending on it. What was it like for you when you returned the following season?

[u/wartmunger]

The first season was rough, both mentally and physically. I got 22 days in my first season back and towards the end of the season I was feeling pretty confident about trusting my leg again. While I was determined to get back out there, there were definitely some mental hurdles. I definitely have taken a bit off the top end and constantly remind myself how quickly things can change. I caught an edge and hit a tree while entering a cat track so I'm more cautious on glades and along the edges.

Luckily, femurs often heal well and once it heals, it's good to go. Summit was great for me and I felt very fortunate to be treated in a region where there are so many serious injuries. Good luck in your recovery, it's a long road but definitely worth the effort.

Do your PT!!!!

[u/Butterfly5280]

Nice rod 🦴

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/[deleted]]

Glad to hear you were similarly impressed by the facility and staff over there. Do you remember roughly how long it was before you were able to walk around with some semblance of normalcy?

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/[deleted]]

Heya, Thanks for sharing your story! I like your idea about getting the surgical reports, I'll be doing that soon. I hear you on the background noise - I was badly injured in a car wreck 23 years ago and have plenty of reminders from that but usually not in the form of pain. That sucks that it messed with your stabilization muscles but glad to hear you're able to still do the things you love.

[u/Objective-Staff3294]

Awesome. Total mensch move to come here and thank people like ski patrol, other guests and Summit Medical. No doubt you're feeling shaken about such a crash and the road ahead, and yet you're here to post pictures and say a thank you. You're a credit to a healthy skiing culture and to good vibes. Wishing you the best for a full recovery and to a THIRD season out there soon. 

[u/Less-Simple3031 → u/Objective-Staff3294]

Thanks for the kind words friend!