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March, 2024

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Broken leg

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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
So April 1 I went skiing at Loon. This has been my first season skiing and I fell in love. I took a couple private lessons at the beginning and then set out on my own. April 1 was probably my 20th time this season. I ended up being pretty decent. In no ways am i "good". The second half of the season I was skiing mostly blues and blacks, in control, able to stop on a dime. Carving very nicely. I would say I'm pretty competent. I don't ski glades or moguls. That was my goal for next year. To learn that terrain.

Needless to say April 1 I was skiing with a couple good friends. Mostly blues and blacks. It was beautiful out and real fast that day. I don't mind fast. Well as I was coming down Big Dipper I caught and edge and destroyed my leg. Broken tibfib, with a spiral fracture at the knee joint. Was in an external fixator for 5 days at speare memorial in Plymouth New Hampshire and came down to mass general for the surgery. I have a 14 in incision on the front of my leg. All in all I'll be fine and skiing next year.

I guess my question is it doesn't seem different than any other fall I have taken where I gather my things, check myself and continue on. I feel the binding didn't release on that intital impact as it did later on in the fall. My bindings are set for beginners. I thought bindings prevented this type of thing. I know it could be worse. Is it just a case of perfect angle caused the binding to not release and it's just an accident? I'm nervous to go next year now as I'm worried I'll break my leg again. I'll post some pics as soon as I can figure out how to on here. Thanks everyone.

-james
Apr 20 2015 8:21PM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
Apr 20 2015 8:28PM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91

Apr 20 2015 8:35PM
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hippy.killer
Posts: 204 - Karma: 947
vibes that first picture is gnarly, heal up quick
Apr 20 2015 8:38PM
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toastyteenagers
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 6,793
how to die^
Apr 20 2015 8:40PM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
It happened so quickly. I thought the bindings were supposed to release on a fall like that, no?
Apr 20 2015 8:42PM
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edai
Posts: 4983 - Karma: 4,632
holy shit bro that picture is ruthless, feel better dude
Apr 20 2015 8:43PM
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rballs_
Posts: 709 - Karma: 2,992
AU5TRALIAIt happened so quickly. I thought the bindings were supposed to release on a fall like that, no?

Yes, they are supposed to, but they don't all the time which is why we have ACL/MCL injuries etc. I dream of a day when I don't have to worry too much of tearing my acl.
In your case OP, i think you fell awkwardly so that you bindings didn't release, either that or someone fucked up on setting your binding correctly.

Anyways, get better soon OP, that looks gnarly as fuck.
Apr 20 2015 8:53PM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
rballs_Yes, they are supposed to, but they don't all the time which is why we have ACL/MCL injuries etc. I dream of a day when I don't have to worry too much of tearing my acl.
In your case OP, i think you fell awkwardly so that you bindings didn't release, either that or someone fucked up on setting your binding correctly.

Anyways, get better soon OP, that looks gnarly as fuck.


Yeah I think I fell awkwardly. It happened so quick I'm not even sure. We were bombing down the run and after the fall I was in shock for a while. Don't remember much. Took ski patrol a while to find me. Surgery took like 4 1/2 hours. Had that stupid erector set on my leg for too long. Shit hurt like a bastard. Never broke a bone before. It was a day of firsts, that's for sure. At least it wasn't a head injury as I was skiing close to the tree line. Count your blessings right? Thanks for the well wishes
Apr 20 2015 9:01PM
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Zurg
Posts: 1486 - Karma: 4,700
Thats brutal
Apr 20 2015 11:23PM
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bhaines
Posts: 47 - Karma: 153
That scar is going to be so gnarly
Apr 20 2015 11:27PM
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yungcigsmoker
Posts: 785 - Karma: 5,922
rballs_Yes, they are supposed to, but they don't all the time which is why we have ACL/MCL injuries etc. I dream of a day when I don't have to worry too much of tearing my acl.


Do a lot of leg exercises and you won't have to worry.


Vibes OP. Hope you heal up fast.
Apr 20 2015 11:30PM
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Andrew_M
Posts: 410 - Karma: 4,047
Heal up OP, I think you just got unlucky to be completely honest. I will say knowing how to fall helps to prevent injuries, but in a fall that happens so quickly I doubt it played a huge factor or even a factor at all. Shit happens but if you love skiing don't let it discourage you. Listen to your doctor, go to physical therapy and work it back stronger than it was so you can have a better season when your 100%! Good luck man!
Apr 21 2015 12:36AM
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Pac2
Posts: 794 - Karma: 2,859
Damn I broke both my ankles but no where near as insane as yours, I ski at loon too and was there last week and the closing day, it is weird your bindings didn't release properly, but I have to be honest you are pretty lucky that you didn't tear your acl or anything in your knee for that matter, Ik breaking something as bad as you did sucks but a ligament tear probably would be more difficult to recover from. Keep going with that positive attitude and heal up quick.
Apr 21 2015 2:06AM
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Pac2
Posts: 794 - Karma: 2,859
Just out of curiosity what bindings are you using?
Apr 21 2015 2:08AM
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peterspringer10
Posts: 153 - Karma: 439
Damn, heal quick but make sure you don't rush it. I broke my femur two years ago just flying down, caught an edge, straight into a tree. Ended up with an 8 inch plate and 9 screws that got removed the next spring after ski season. Your first day back might be a little nervous but you will be fine and not scared once you get back into it, good luck!
Apr 21 2015 8:03AM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
kryptonicJust out of curiosity what bindings are you using?


I just picked up skiing this year. First season. I went with Head Rev 75 as I could grow into them a little bit. The bindings that came on them are PR 10. They came with the skis. The skis aren't bad. They were pretty easy to learn on. I know I could have got better but just wanted something that I could learn on to see if I liked skiing which I sure as hell do. It's a blast. It sucks, it was my last trip of the season. At that point it was my 20th time and I like loon. I know it could have been way worse. I was skiing close to the tree line, could have torn my ACL or suffered some sort of head injury. This sucks but I'll get healthy and will be back out there next year. I chalk it up to I just fell at the right angle and it was a wrap. The binding did eventually release but not on the initial impact when I broke my leg. Thanks for all the well wishes everyone.
Apr 21 2015 11:39AM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
Just wanted to post the Xray images for folks that might be interested. The only thing not shown here that was the biggest issue according to my surgeon was the spiral fracture in the knee joint. The femur pile drove the bottom joint and fractured it. The were able to bring it back up and fill the back of it in with a bone graph. Thats the biggest hold up with my recovery. Also is the most recent photo of the staples out. I got them out on Monday. So things are on the up and up. Im a sales cube monkey so its back to work on Monday. Been using the crutches mostly lately. Been staying away from the wheelchair and walker. Let me know if you have any questions.




May 1 2015 10:53PM
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Mingg
Posts: 13936 - Karma: 48,465
Holy shit dude. That's gnarly as shit! Sorry your first season ended like that. I can't really say much about why your binding didn't release.. but wanted to say don't let an injury like that stop ya/scary ya from skiing next winter! +Vibes and I hope your recovery is quick and as easy as possible!
May 2 2015 1:09AM
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.FRY.
Posts: 5620 - Karma: 22,852
holy shit
May 2 2015 1:30AM
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.tomskis
Posts: 380 - Karma: 1,025
Holy shit that first picture is crazy. Definitely seems like a freak accident.



This makes my torn ACL look like a novelty. Heal up soon man
May 2 2015 1:43AM
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Nikolaus
Posts: 863 - Karma: 995
That looks gnarly. still recovering from triple knee surgery including a bone graft myself and it really sucks. how long till full recovery? i really hope you have health insurance cuz otherwise you're fucked.
May 2 2015 1:46AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,439
Gnar. Heal up soon man!
May 2 2015 4:28AM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
NikolausThat looks gnarly. still recovering from triple knee surgery including a bone graft myself and it really sucks. how long till full recovery? i really hope you have health insurance cuz otherwise you're fucked.


Yeah I do. A blessing really. Bill ended up being 110k. Im out of pocket 4k. Hurts but could be way worse. Just saw the surgeon yesterday and I am cleared to put weight on it and start outpatient physical therapy. The said they don't see why I should be able to ski when the season opens this year. All good news. Probably going to get new bindings and skis and stay away from loon this year.
Jun 23 2015 3:24PM
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JohnLocke
Posts: 337 - Karma: 1,057
That injury is close to if not on the same level as EP's skin graft surgery a few years back and that gave me nightmares. Heal up soon man! Also, don't be afraid to get back on the horse!
Jun 23 2015 4:45PM
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corona
Posts: 12752 - Karma: 32,264
AU5TRALIAYeah I do. A blessing really. Bill ended up being 110k. Im out of pocket 4k. Hurts but could be way worse. Just saw the surgeon yesterday and I am cleared to put weight on it and start outpatient physical therapy. The said they don't see why I should be able to ski when the season opens this year. All good news. Probably going to get new bindings and skis and stay away from loon this year.


awesome you can use your leg again. Don't get lazy with exercises and such! I know it's really easy to just not do certain stretches or muscle work, but you will thank yourself so much if you really just keep at it until you're 100%.
Jun 23 2015 6:06PM
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AU5TRALIA
Posts: 15 - Karma: 91
ck0belskiThat injury is close to if not on the same level as EP's skin graft surgery a few years back and that gave me nightmares. Heal up soon man! Also, don't be afraid to get back on the horse!


VinnieFawesome you can use your leg again. Don't get lazy with exercises and such! I know it's really easy to just not do certain stretches or muscle work, but you will thank yourself so much if you really just keep at it until you're 100%.


Thanks for the kind words. Wasn't doing anything crazy. Flying down the mountain, caught an edge, took a fall and the binding didn't release. It sucked but could have been a head injury or something. So counting my blessings. Just luck of the draw I guess. I love skiing. I'm not going to let this deter me. Im sure I'll be cautious for a while but once that confidence is back up and I know my leg will hold up. It'll be another beautiful season ahead of me.
Jun 23 2015 6:26PM
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