Ouch (possible NSFW pictures of my rear to follow)
Discussion
Right, here's the plan (sketches are mine, not from a medical text book, just in case you were wondering (apart from the first one, obviously)).
A femur should look like this:
Mine currently looks a bit like this:
The consultant thinks there's quite a bit of dead and/or infected bone, which will never heal. She's going to chop out about 16cm of the damaged/dead/infected stuff, take out the damaged metal, then insert some antibiotic laced cement, which will temporarily fill the gap. The cement will actually touch the ends of the bone where it's been cut back to the healthy stuff. This is all held in place by a temporary external rod, for about six weeks:
Second lot of surgery, the cement and temporary rod are removed, an external rail/fixator is attached to the bone and then the bone is cut at the top:
Then all I have to do is "wind down" the fixator 1mm per day. New bone grows in the gap at the top and the ends at the bottom get closer:
After 16cm of winding, 1mm at a time (yep, 160 days...), the gap is filled. Surgery three is to remove the rail, possibly add an internal plate and make sure the bone is lined up correctly and fusing at the bottom:
This is the kind of thing I'll be sporting this summer:
Sorry the photos are sideways, it's the Thumbsnap/iPhone glitch.
Any questions?
A femur should look like this:
Mine currently looks a bit like this:
The consultant thinks there's quite a bit of dead and/or infected bone, which will never heal. She's going to chop out about 16cm of the damaged/dead/infected stuff, take out the damaged metal, then insert some antibiotic laced cement, which will temporarily fill the gap. The cement will actually touch the ends of the bone where it's been cut back to the healthy stuff. This is all held in place by a temporary external rod, for about six weeks:
Second lot of surgery, the cement and temporary rod are removed, an external rail/fixator is attached to the bone and then the bone is cut at the top:
Then all I have to do is "wind down" the fixator 1mm per day. New bone grows in the gap at the top and the ends at the bottom get closer:
After 16cm of winding, 1mm at a time (yep, 160 days...), the gap is filled. Surgery three is to remove the rail, possibly add an internal plate and make sure the bone is lined up correctly and fusing at the bottom:
This is the kind of thing I'll be sporting this summer:
Sorry the photos are sideways, it's the Thumbsnap/iPhone glitch.
Any questions?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm not sure... It's one of thosethings one really doesn't want to Google too much! I did ask the consultant how the rods from the external rail through to the bone move... They basically slice their way down, 1mm at a time, through my soft tissue, which then "reseals" behind it.Apparently.
I'm still getting my head round how long it's all going to take, which is 12-14 months. That can't be helped, I'll not be getting a bike for this summer, that's for sure! Once the rail/fixator is in, after about six weeks I'll be able to fully weight bear and drive, so I'm hoping to get back to work again. The only reason I'm not there at the moment is that I can't drive and there's no real other way to get there, other than the bus, which is about a 90 minute trip each way. That's too much with my unstable leg at the moment.
Morning everyone! Thanks for the good wishes, I really appreciate them - and the piss taking as well.
Just seen one of the surgeons and the good news is they only had to remove 8cm of dead/infected femur, rather than the 15-16cm originally anticipated. Most of the original metal is gone, apart from one pin, which would’ve done more harm than good to remove, so that’s staying put.
There’s also good range of motion in my knee, even with the new fixator pins in (about 90°).
I’ll be in hospital about another week or so, then back home for 6-8 weeks before the next surgery to “break” and “grow” my new femur. Because there is only about 8cm of bone to grow, this means it’ll only take ~80 days (1mm per day) instead of the anticipated 150-160 days.
So I’ll be able to go new bike shopping a little bit sooner! Still a long way to go, but better at the moment than originally anticipated.
Just seen one of the surgeons and the good news is they only had to remove 8cm of dead/infected femur, rather than the 15-16cm originally anticipated. Most of the original metal is gone, apart from one pin, which would’ve done more harm than good to remove, so that’s staying put.
There’s also good range of motion in my knee, even with the new fixator pins in (about 90°).
I’ll be in hospital about another week or so, then back home for 6-8 weeks before the next surgery to “break” and “grow” my new femur. Because there is only about 8cm of bone to grow, this means it’ll only take ~80 days (1mm per day) instead of the anticipated 150-160 days.
So I’ll be able to go new bike shopping a little bit sooner! Still a long way to go, but better at the moment than originally anticipated.
Could be up to another 12-15 months before I’m riding again. Once the bone is fixed, I’ll need to rebuild the muscle and get Leggy McLegster working properly again. I think I’ll go for another Triumph Explorer, but whatever I get, it’ll be a “big trailie” style. Nothing is “in”or “out”, it’ll depend on budget and what’s available/takes my fancy. Ms Dibble is happy with me getting another bike but she hasn’t decided whether or not she’ll pillion with me (even though I was solo when I had my off).
Amputation was (and still is) an option, but the prognosis today was better than it was two days ago, now they’ve been able to actually get inside and see what’s what.
Amputation was (and still is) an option, but the prognosis today was better than it was two days ago, now they’ve been able to actually get inside and see what’s what.
In my hospital bed, of course!andburg said:
glad to see progress being made!
have to say i don't love biking enough to go through what you are and be looking for a new bike!
think I'd be looking at an elise/caterham or something a little more protected, fair play to ya!
Can you get such a thing for the price of a bike though, or would be an absolute nail?have to say i don't love biking enough to go through what you are and be looking for a new bike!
think I'd be looking at an elise/caterham or something a little more protected, fair play to ya!
AppleJuice said:
Get well soon Dibbles! (1 mm at a time 
)
No. The staff are brilliant though. )dudleybloke said:
Any fit nurses there?
Once again, PH asks the important questions... Strangely, there’s a motorcyclist in the bed next to me who broke his leg last year. Not naming names or doing selfies, but he’s from Morecambe and won’t be doing the TT this year either. Nice guy and dead friendly (why wouldn’t he be?).
Biker's Nemesis said:
Dibble said:
No. The staff are brilliant though.
Strangely, there’s a motorcyclist in the bed next to me who broke his leg last year. Not naming names or doing selfies, but he’s from Morecambe and won’t be doing the TT this year either. Nice guy and dead friendly (why wouldn’t he be?).
That could be 1 of 2 people.Strangely, there’s a motorcyclist in the bed next to me who broke his leg last year. Not naming names or doing selfies, but he’s from Morecambe and won’t be doing the TT this year either. Nice guy and dead friendly (why wouldn’t he be?).
My “beer related co-patient” has just gone. I didn’t bother with pics or asking for an autograph, didn’t feel right to be honest and it’s a bit weird mentioning him here to be honest.
I’ve never really met anyone “properly” famous but what a genuinely nice guy. I hope whatever his future holds is good for him. He said to go and say hello if I was ever at an event - I realise he may say that to a lot of people and I wouldn’t be at all offended if he’s already forgotten me!
Chatted a fair bit last night and today about lots of random stuff, including cars and bikes and absolutely no airs or graces from him at all. The guy opposite me is also a biker who knew my neighbour much better than I did, so at least I’ve still got someone to chat to here.
I’ve never really met anyone “properly” famous but what a genuinely nice guy. I hope whatever his future holds is good for him. He said to go and say hello if I was ever at an event - I realise he may say that to a lot of people and I wouldn’t be at all offended if he’s already forgotten me!
Chatted a fair bit last night and today about lots of random stuff, including cars and bikes and absolutely no airs or graces from him at all. The guy opposite me is also a biker who knew my neighbour much better than I did, so at least I’ve still got someone to chat to here.
Mrbiker1050 said:
Are you on some sort of bikers only ward lol
Not any more! I’m on a six bed bay, three are occupied, including me. It’s a mix of urology and orthopaedic patients and was full earlier today. I’m now the only biker. Other ortho patient was a skiing accident and he’s sporting a halo frame on his lower leg. Other guy 8m not sure about but he has a tracheostomy tube fitted.The three that have left today were two kidney operations and a day case lump removal. Skiing chap should be going home tomorrow.
Another slight update from me.
After the last surgery, my bloods came back all clear with no infection, so I was out of hospital last Monday, a day earlier than expected. All the old metal, except for one pin in the bottom of my femur, was removed. It would apparently have caused more damage hunting around for this pin and it won’t do any damage to leave it in there. I asked but I wasn’t allowed to keep any of the scrap they removed as souvenirs!
I had my follow up with the consultant on Friday, including a “b
k to ankle” standing x-ray, which was “interesting”, as I still can’t weight bear on my right leg and had to hop backwards up on to a step about six inches high. I managed it ok and the image showed that my legs are about the same length, to within a couple of millimetres, certainly close enough for government work. This stage is a temporary fix, and the length of my damaged femur can be adjusted and tweaked during the next phase.
The consultant is brilliant and she is really happy with everything so far. There was less bone to get rid of than anticipated and every millimetre saved means a day less for the next stage. There’s a sausage of antibiotic laced cement currently in the gap, pumping drugs into the cleaned up ends of the bone. It’s effectively the same stuff used in hip replacements, but rather than a smooth finish, it’s intentionally pretty rough, which increases the surface area of the cement and therefore the amount of antibiotic getting into me. The actual drug Is Vancomycin, which is basically the “Domestos” of the antibiotic world.
I’m provisionally booked in for the next operation on 22 May, which is the one where they double the length of the external rail, break the femur at the top and start the lengthening process. The break is probably the most delicate and critical bit of the whole process as it’s vital the break doesn’t cause damage to the bone biology, as this would obviously hinder the new bone growth.
About six weeks after the surgery, I should be in a position where all the fixators are stable enough and bedded in that I can fully weight bear on my right leg and I’ll be about half way through the lengthening process. The consultant was able to insert the pins holding the external rail in healthy bone, away from any of the previous pins that were in there, so again, better than hoped.
Once the lengthening bit has been finished, the join at the bottom of my femur is supplemented by a bone graft, taken from my hip. I then have the option of an internal fixator, or sticking with the external rail. The external fixator would get put on the inside of my femur, on the opposite side to where the original plate went, fed up through a small incision on the inside of my knee and a corresponding incision at the top of my thigh. I’ve not made any decisions about which option I’ll take for now. I’ll decide nearer the time.
I’m back home in my flat with my idiot dog. There really isn’t much pain at all, but it’s uncomfortable where the pins go through my leg if sit in a chair for too long. Sleeping is a bit tricky as I normally sleep on my side. My right side is obviously out and my left side is also tricky as it stretches my right leg to make the pin sites uncomfortable. I’m hobbling round on my crutches and I’ve bought a trolley from Ikea so I can push food and drink about. Clothing at the moment is restricted to shorts and some full zip tracksuit bottoms, so no posh dos for me for the foreseeable, at least not from the waist down.
All in all, better so far than I’d hoped, but still a long way to go. I feel much more positive now the first bit is out of the way and my right leg isn’t quite so painful and floppy. The flip side is the rail is a bit of a faff! It doesn’t hurt and the closest thing I can describe is if you hit something on your teeth - you feel it, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s an odd sensation, more than anything. For now, I can live with it.
After the last surgery, my bloods came back all clear with no infection, so I was out of hospital last Monday, a day earlier than expected. All the old metal, except for one pin in the bottom of my femur, was removed. It would apparently have caused more damage hunting around for this pin and it won’t do any damage to leave it in there. I asked but I wasn’t allowed to keep any of the scrap they removed as souvenirs!
I had my follow up with the consultant on Friday, including a “b
k to ankle” standing x-ray, which was “interesting”, as I still can’t weight bear on my right leg and had to hop backwards up on to a step about six inches high. I managed it ok and the image showed that my legs are about the same length, to within a couple of millimetres, certainly close enough for government work. This stage is a temporary fix, and the length of my damaged femur can be adjusted and tweaked during the next phase.The consultant is brilliant and she is really happy with everything so far. There was less bone to get rid of than anticipated and every millimetre saved means a day less for the next stage. There’s a sausage of antibiotic laced cement currently in the gap, pumping drugs into the cleaned up ends of the bone. It’s effectively the same stuff used in hip replacements, but rather than a smooth finish, it’s intentionally pretty rough, which increases the surface area of the cement and therefore the amount of antibiotic getting into me. The actual drug Is Vancomycin, which is basically the “Domestos” of the antibiotic world.
I’m provisionally booked in for the next operation on 22 May, which is the one where they double the length of the external rail, break the femur at the top and start the lengthening process. The break is probably the most delicate and critical bit of the whole process as it’s vital the break doesn’t cause damage to the bone biology, as this would obviously hinder the new bone growth.
About six weeks after the surgery, I should be in a position where all the fixators are stable enough and bedded in that I can fully weight bear on my right leg and I’ll be about half way through the lengthening process. The consultant was able to insert the pins holding the external rail in healthy bone, away from any of the previous pins that were in there, so again, better than hoped.
Once the lengthening bit has been finished, the join at the bottom of my femur is supplemented by a bone graft, taken from my hip. I then have the option of an internal fixator, or sticking with the external rail. The external fixator would get put on the inside of my femur, on the opposite side to where the original plate went, fed up through a small incision on the inside of my knee and a corresponding incision at the top of my thigh. I’ve not made any decisions about which option I’ll take for now. I’ll decide nearer the time.
I’m back home in my flat with my idiot dog. There really isn’t much pain at all, but it’s uncomfortable where the pins go through my leg if sit in a chair for too long. Sleeping is a bit tricky as I normally sleep on my side. My right side is obviously out and my left side is also tricky as it stretches my right leg to make the pin sites uncomfortable. I’m hobbling round on my crutches and I’ve bought a trolley from Ikea so I can push food and drink about. Clothing at the moment is restricted to shorts and some full zip tracksuit bottoms, so no posh dos for me for the foreseeable, at least not from the waist down.
All in all, better so far than I’d hoped, but still a long way to go. I feel much more positive now the first bit is out of the way and my right leg isn’t quite so painful and floppy. The flip side is the rail is a bit of a faff! It doesn’t hurt and the closest thing I can describe is if you hit something on your teeth - you feel it, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s an odd sensation, more than anything. For now, I can live with it.
Everything surgical has been on the NHS. I’ve had some “private” physio sort of through work - I pay in monthly to what are known as the Police Treatment Centres and you can get a couple of weeks physio there (if you Google Police Treatment Centres, you can see what they offer, but they’re very good). I’ve paid in over 20 years, so about time I used them really! I was due back for another fortnight because of the severity of the injury, but the setback meant that’s all on hold. Once the rail eventually comes off, some time after the end of August (I think) I’ll be back for at least another two weeks, probably followed by a further two weeks after another month or two. The PTCs have qualified physios and gym staff, gyms, hydro pool, swimming pool, lots of specific classes (arm, leg, shoulder) as well as circuits, spinning, Pilates. The centres are registered charities and of course, a lot of Police officers pay in monthly as well.
Insurance wise, I’ve been paid on on my bike policy as I was fully comp. my personal injury claim is ongoing but is nowhere near being setttled yet, as I’m still not recovered. I’ve no idea what (if any) settlement I get and there’s honestly no point worrying about it at this stage. My main aim is to get better, get back to walking, then build my fitness, get a bike and get back to work ASAP. Once I can weight bear, I’ll be able to drive, even with the fixator still attached. That will be a huge help to me and I’ll also be able to walk my dog - good for me and for him.
It took a long time to get a referral to the limb reconstruction specialists and really, looking back, I should have pushed for this much harder and much earlier on, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’ve lost a few months I guess, but I can’t ever get that time back, so I’m just having to be as philosophical/pragmatic about that as I can. I’m feeling more positive now that things are finally moving in the right direction. I’m still a long way from fixed, but at least stuff is finally happening.
The only other downside is from May I’ll be on half pay. I’ve got cover, which takes me back up to about 90% and I’m spending a lot less on buying lunch at work/fuel, so I shouldn’t really be any worse off and it will hopefully only be for a couple or three months. I’m appealing the half pay decision, but will just have to,wait and see on that score. I’ve also asked about the possibility of doing some working from home, but again, having to wait and see about that.
Oh, and here’s my new wheels. Very liberating being able to get food and drink from the kitchen to the dining table!
Insurance wise, I’ve been paid on on my bike policy as I was fully comp. my personal injury claim is ongoing but is nowhere near being setttled yet, as I’m still not recovered. I’ve no idea what (if any) settlement I get and there’s honestly no point worrying about it at this stage. My main aim is to get better, get back to walking, then build my fitness, get a bike and get back to work ASAP. Once I can weight bear, I’ll be able to drive, even with the fixator still attached. That will be a huge help to me and I’ll also be able to walk my dog - good for me and for him.
It took a long time to get a referral to the limb reconstruction specialists and really, looking back, I should have pushed for this much harder and much earlier on, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’ve lost a few months I guess, but I can’t ever get that time back, so I’m just having to be as philosophical/pragmatic about that as I can. I’m feeling more positive now that things are finally moving in the right direction. I’m still a long way from fixed, but at least stuff is finally happening.
The only other downside is from May I’ll be on half pay. I’ve got cover, which takes me back up to about 90% and I’m spending a lot less on buying lunch at work/fuel, so I shouldn’t really be any worse off and it will hopefully only be for a couple or three months. I’m appealing the half pay decision, but will just have to,wait and see on that score. I’ve also asked about the possibility of doing some working from home, but again, having to wait and see about that.
Oh, and here’s my new wheels. Very liberating being able to get food and drink from the kitchen to the dining table!
Cheers everyone!
About those trousers... one of my sisters, who is ha dy with the sewing machine, is going to be altering some of my jeans to something fairly similar. Bit of a case of trial and error as she won’t be able to do anything until the next bit of rail is fitted.
I’m trying to be as positive as possible. I had a really crappy couple of weeks just after the plate broke in February. I still have the odd moment but at least now things are moving forward. I’m trying to not think too far ahead, just about the next bit.
It’s a bit crap knowing I can’t drive or do much for myself at the moment and I’m back to having to strip wash at the bathroom sink (I can’t shower because I can’t get the rail/wounds wet, and the clips are still in and covered by a dressing). I just keep telling myself it’s only temporary. Asked me again in a few weeks...
Knowing I was going to be in hospital a probable maximum of ten days also helped - there was an “end” in sight, at least for that bit and it will be the same again next month when I have the next surgery. Yes, it will be more awkward with a bigger fixator, but on the flip side, it’s another step forward in the process.
Writing stuff down here also helps me get it in perspective too. Have a great week everyone.
About those trousers... one of my sisters, who is ha dy with the sewing machine, is going to be altering some of my jeans to something fairly similar. Bit of a case of trial and error as she won’t be able to do anything until the next bit of rail is fitted.
I’m trying to be as positive as possible. I had a really crappy couple of weeks just after the plate broke in February. I still have the odd moment but at least now things are moving forward. I’m trying to not think too far ahead, just about the next bit.
It’s a bit crap knowing I can’t drive or do much for myself at the moment and I’m back to having to strip wash at the bathroom sink (I can’t shower because I can’t get the rail/wounds wet, and the clips are still in and covered by a dressing). I just keep telling myself it’s only temporary. Asked me again in a few weeks...
Knowing I was going to be in hospital a probable maximum of ten days also helped - there was an “end” in sight, at least for that bit and it will be the same again next month when I have the next surgery. Yes, it will be more awkward with a bigger fixator, but on the flip side, it’s another step forward in the process.
Writing stuff down here also helps me get it in perspective too. Have a great week everyone.
Bob_Defly said:
Hey Dibble, chin up, hope you get well soon mate!
I do have a question. Do you have any recollection as to whether your femur break came from the bike/bars or from hitting the road? I was wondering whether the design of ADV bikes with high/wide bars would cause more of an injury like this in a rear end collision?
Cheers for the well wishes.I do have a question. Do you have any recollection as to whether your femur break came from the bike/bars or from hitting the road? I was wondering whether the design of ADV bikes with high/wide bars would cause more of an injury like this in a rear end collision?
Not a clue about where I got the damage, whether it was hitting the car, my bike or the road. I hit the car with my front wheel, between the car’s rear number plate and the indicator (guesstimate) and not quite at a right angle. I was braking and trying to steer to the left. So I was pointing slightly left, which is why the majority of the damage was to my right hand side. I think my badly bruised and swollen knackers came from hitting the tank just before I came off... fortunately, there are no photos of them!
I’m not sure whether or not I rolled, but I do know the front/right hand side of me hit the back of the car fairly upright. When I came to rest, I was lying on my back/left hand side, in the outside lane with my feet pointing down the carriageway, roughly parallel to the white lines between the two lanes. My feet were furthest forward, my head furthest back.
Had my 50 plus clips out today and the “pin sites” redressed - that’s where the metal pins go through my skin/muscle. All good, no infection still. It’s nice to get the dressing off the incision and get some air to it. Unfortunately, I’ve got to have the whole clip removal thing done again after the next two surgeries. It doesn’t hurt as such, some needed a bit of a “tug” to get out, but it’s no worse than being stung by an ant.
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