JakeBrake
Gold Member
I was at the tree farm alone Wednesday afternoon to do a little TSI (timber stand improvement). I drove my truck to the end of the driveable part of a log road. At that point the road begins a steep descent with a large erosion rut in the middle of the road. I prepared my chainsaw (fortunately it was off) and walked down the road on the edge of the rut. With absolutely no warning I slipped into the rut and snapped my right ankle. I lay there for a few minutes and tried to stand up. At the time I did not know my ankle was broken. I was wearing heavy Redwing boots which held my foot in position. I realized I could not walk so I crawled about 100 yards on hand and knees, chainsaw in hand, to my truck. I had my cellphone, but I was under the delusion that If I could get to my truck I could drive the 40 miles to my home and then go to Big City ER. When I got in my truck and tried to drive, I knew I could not go home, so I drove to a community hospital with an ER about 5 miles away. at the community hospital ER they took some X-rays and confirmed that the ankle was both broken and dislocated.The ER doctor asked me if I knew a good orthopedic surgeon. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I do know a good orthopedic surgeon because I was laid up for 3 months in 2004 after an auto accident. The ER doctor called my orthopedic surgeon who said I should meet him at Big City ER ASAP. My orthopedic surgeon said it was imperative to get the ankle joint back in its proper position or the bone pressing against the skin and nerves would cause serious complications. My wife was at home an hour's drive away and it would have taken another hour to get me to Big City ER. So the community hospital personnnel placed a temporary splint on my ankle and put me on an ambulance to Big City ER.
At Big City ER my orthopedic surgeon took more X-rays. injected pain killer into the joint and repositioned the joint. He said if he had not been able to reposition the joint, he would have had to perform emergency surgery immediately. He then installed another temporary splint and sent me home.
Next week I will go in for surgery involving stainless steel pins, screws, and plates.
I don't know what the safety message is here. Use the buddy system? Stay out of the woods? Stay away from the rut? Buy even heavier boots with cleats?
At Big City ER my orthopedic surgeon took more X-rays. injected pain killer into the joint and repositioned the joint. He said if he had not been able to reposition the joint, he would have had to perform emergency surgery immediately. He then installed another temporary splint and sent me home.
Next week I will go in for surgery involving stainless steel pins, screws, and plates.
I don't know what the safety message is here. Use the buddy system? Stay out of the woods? Stay away from the rut? Buy even heavier boots with cleats?