The patient, a woman, fell and the worst possible thing happened...the bone into which the repacement rod was inserted broke just below the rod. Surgery was advised but she sought consultation with this group and was advised to wait and see. The arm was stabilized, the bone knit back together and she was back to normal, albeit with a metal rod in her arm.
The point is her fracture was treated conservatively, like a fracture in a previously unoperated arm, and the outcome was excellent.
Now, that doesn't mean we post RTS patients should be cavalier about staying vertical. We still need to be cautious and vigilant. For me, the stumble occurs, not when I am picking my way through a veritable obstacle course but, when I am at least risk of tripping, when there is no banana peel or skateboard or oil slick.
Just be careful out there!
