Another Detour to the Trauma Bay

I'm not hurt, but once again I had to go to the trauma bay to tend to friends or family.

In my last post I mentioned that Carlton was going to take down the nasty, falling to pieces pool house at John's house. He did take it down, but he didn't mean to be in it when it came down on him.

He was hurt pretty bad - open tib-fib, ischial (pelvic) fracture, compression fracture of L4, and some ribs on both sides. Miraculously he did not have a head injury. Hard-headed? I don't know.

When my younger brother, John, saw the building he said, "Good thing Carlton wasn't in the building when it came down." He was, he was completely in it, not half-way, not one leg stuck in the building, but completely inside the building and he didn't have time to get out when he heard it go.

Lower leg fracture

Carlton had surgery that day and they fixed the leg with a rod through the tibia. He's now in rehab. Carlton is not thriving in the hospital environment. He does not sit or rest very well. He likes to DO stuff. Ben tolerated the hospital environment better than Carlton is. I hope Carlton will get out faster than Ben. I think Ben did 3 weeks in rehab. Carlton will have to go to the mental hospital if they keep him that long.

The rehab doctor asked him about any steps at his house. He said 3 steps, "but I have a lot of lumber and I can direct someone to make a ramp." Not have someone make a ramp, but DIRECT someone to make a ramp, because it will have to be made to his precise specifications.

This unexpected event obviously threw me for a loop and was not getting other stuff done. I am one week behind in my class, but working hard to catch up.

Put in some good thoughts for Carlton. He needs them.

More X-rays

I've got some photos of the "after" x-rays. You can see where the ortho doc re-created the hip joint, the acetabulum. It looks really nice except for the size of the screws. I've include the scapula X-rays as well, but I really can't interpret them. It's not an area they operate on very often and it's not an area I am very familiar with. Children don't break their scapulas.

Hip X-ray during surgery. The large metallic objects are retractors holding open the surgical site.  But you can see what a nice hip joint they re-established. 

Post-op surgery X-ray showing the sizes of the screws. Whoa! You can also see the hip joint well on this view.

Shoulder post-op films. Don't ask me about it. I don't really know what they did except stabilize the fracture.

I also included a photo of the current "bump in the road" as the doctors and therapists at the rehab hospital call it. Ben developed a DVT - a deep vein thrombosis, despite getting heparin regularly. It happened due the nature of the injury, surgery in the pelvic region, and his degree of immobility. Pretty frustrating for me. Wildly frustrating for Ben. He's back getting therapy now after a 3 day hiatus. Also they put him on coumadin, an oral anticoagulant to prevent any further clot formation or extension of the clot. Basically it is up to his macrophages to consume the clot which can take months. 

I couldn't understand the ultrasound that showed his DVT except for the words that said "thrombus" so I am including the drawing which clearly shows his DVT.  

Obviously, home repair and energy upgrade plans are on the back burner. Just trying to figure out how to set up the house for him. Fortunately, Ben lives in a one story ranch which was set up for my mother who had serious rheumatoid arthritis and is pretty accessible. 


I need to go deliver a chocolate milk shake to the wounded cyclist. Ya'll take care.  Keep your helmets on.