I offer my most sincere thanks to surgeons Dr. Brian Rinker and Dr. Russell Shatford, my physical therapist Beth Butcher, and the amazing medical staff at the University of Kentucky Hospital for working miracles for me.
The small block of wood that did the damage, and the glove I was wearing.
Friday, June 29, 2007 - My first visit to Dr. Rinker in the Hand Clinic at UK.
Friday, June 29, 2007 - The first of countless x-rays show multiple fractures with bone loss.
July 1, 2007 - Before the first surgery. The PT fixed me up with a fancy splint, and Tricia told me about using Glad Press-n-Seal to waterproof everything for showering.
Friday, July 13 , 2007 - The bandages come off after surgery and I get a look at Dr. Rinker's handiwork.
The white thing is a plastic knob put over the pin that holds two of the bone fragments together.
Video of pin being removed
August 10, 2007 - The plastic knob fell off the pin after a couple weeks.
The wound is healing nicely.
September 26, 2007 - The wound is healing well but the end of the wire has poked up through the skin.
October 12, 2007 - After the second surgery
October 12, 2007 - The bandage is removed to show the wounds.
Bone was taken from my left wrist, pulverized, and grafted to the finger. A titanium plate was screwed into the graft to strengthen and stabilize it.
November 9, 2007
December 7, 2007
March 7, 2008
June 24, 2008 - one year after the accident
August 19, 2008 - Dr. Russell Shatford agreed to operate once more to remove the plate and screws and free the tendon from attachment to the bone. I found that the plate pinched when I bent my finger and was hindering my rehabilitation.
