What happened

The OFFICIAL story is that Joe wanted to do the last Snowboard trick of the season during a late May sleet off the roof of the Chukar Circle cabin.  The takeoff was grand, exiting the flat just left of the chimney.  The inversion rotation in the air was spectacular, but the landing was lousy.  Result was a a gash in the hand, and a "Snowboarders Ankle".   That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

The ACTUAL story is on the final ladder mount of the job to the left of the chimney, I fell.  It was during  a 2 day prep and stain for the redwood siding of the cabin shown below.   I had put up the ladder on uneven terrain a dozen times during that work.  In fact,  five previous times fully extended to get to the chimney heights.  The last time I needed to do it which was to stain the very last section of the chimney is when the ladder's base slipped and tripped me off standing above the eave.

  The phallic chimney            Wall stained but for one chimney side       

Using Peter as a gauge, the eave of the roof where I was tripped off the ladder is about 16 ft high.

    Peter is  about 6 feet.                  The Landing Zone

Damage to Hand

A 5 cm by 1 cm deep gash repaired by 5 stitches is the least of my worries.

Damage to Ankle

I had a serious Talus fracture, the wedge/pear shaped bone just under the tibula and fibula bones of the lower leg.  It transfers weight to the heel bone and other forward foot bones.   However, the fracture was  not the most devastating to the Talus, which would be around its head or main part.  That has lifelong disability and poor prognosis.   As it is, I have a fracture on the....

lateral process of Talus bone

More  here and video here (where the type 2 is my malady)

This fracture is generally called a Snowboarders ankle since it occurs 15 more often to snowboarders than the general public.   This happens as the foot is in 'dorsiflexion' where the toe is close as it can get to one shin.  Then the ankle is rotate outward with great force.   This happens on a snowboard as one is falling hard after being airborne and falling over and forward of a board which is flat on the snow but holding your sole of your foot in one place.  Ouch.

CT scan 'slice' of Joe's ankle                                     Closeup of the Talus lateral process 'chunk'

 

Thankfully the break is not on the 'neck' of Talus

The Talus is a critical little wedge deep in the ankle. It serves to transfer all body weight from tibia and fibula bones coming from the knee to the heel bone and to the forward bones.  It has seven bearing surfaces on which other bones slide.  It's blood supply is poor, and partly results in slow healing after injury..

Ramifications

I will have several titanium counter sunk screws to reattach the fragment to the Talus on 6/3, nine days after the injury after the initial swelling decreases.  The recovery from that surgery is six weeks on crutches with no weight on the foot.  Then physical therapy and all the demands to get mobility back in the foot.

Most serious change to summer plans is the unhappy fact I have to abandon skippering a crew in Tonga.   More info here.  We planned this trip  since last October, and my dumb accident forced me to withdraw.   Everyone else will go, and attempt to drink my portion of grog.  My erstwhile 2nd mate from a half-dozen other sailing trips will fleet up to become skipper for this trip, so there is minimal loss of funds and fun....for the others.

Disabled Difficulty Discovery

I have not, in nearly six decades, ever broken a bone in my body.  This instance has forced myself to examine the difficulties of those that cannot put weight on a leg for extended periods.   This is really going to be onerous as I'll be the only one at home for 2 and 1/2 weeks in June.

Crutches are a bitch to live with.  The are clumsy, and prone to trip.  You can't carry coffee or any open heavy item while on them.  A carrying  pouch around your neck is a poor substitute for hands.

I was given a recommendation to rent a 'knee scooter' which works for me since I can bear weight on my left knee.  One kneels on the seat, and pushes with a good leg.  The seat is also a  albeit, uncomfortable stool to sit on when stopped.  I have found that standing on one leg is quickly tiring.

It is a remarkable device that will make it a lot easier getting through weeks where I have only one working foot.  I've learned to do 'wheelies' and quick 180 degree turns with one brake.   For about $30/week, I can get around the house quite rapidly and easily.   (Glad our house is only one level!)