I’ve been scouring Google for answers, but I'm coming up empty. Does anyone here have any insight? I'd especially value an opinion from a surgeon if anyone is listening.
Two years ago, I was in a car accident and fractured my arm just above the elbow—a really awkward spot right above the joint. I was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital via the ER, where they installed a plate and screws. A few months later, two of the screws snapped, everything started shifting, and the bone just wasn't knitting back together properly. I had to go under the knife again last year at the Drašković Trauma Hospital to replace the plate with titanium hardware and add some bone graft. They couldn't even get the two broken screws out. Everything would have been fine if the bone had finally fused, but it’s been a year and still nothing. Now
I’ve ended up back in the hospital dealing with an infection. The doctors are suggesting it might be a metal sensitivity, which could be why the bone hasn't healed. Everything is scheduled for this Friday, and I'm spiraling about what comes next. My surgeon says he won't be installing any more hardware—just leaving the bone ends unattached—and once the wounds heal, I'll be in a cast. He also dropped a bombshell: there's a very high chance the bone won't fuse at all, meaning I could live with a compromised arm for the rest of my life. And this is my right arm. I'm only 25! I can't wrap my head around that. Is there any other way to handle this? Please, I need advice ASAP.
Two years ago, I was in a car accident and fractured my arm just above the elbow—a really awkward spot right above the joint. I was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital via the ER, where they installed a plate and screws. A few months later, two of the screws snapped, everything started shifting, and the bone just wasn't knitting back together properly. I had to go under the knife again last year at the Drašković Trauma Hospital to replace the plate with titanium hardware and add some bone graft. They couldn't even get the two broken screws out. Everything would have been fine if the bone had finally fused, but it’s been a year and still nothing. Now
I’ve ended up back in the hospital dealing with an infection. The doctors are suggesting it might be a metal sensitivity, which could be why the bone hasn't healed. Everything is scheduled for this Friday, and I'm spiraling about what comes next. My surgeon says he won't be installing any more hardware—just leaving the bone ends unattached—and once the wounds heal, I'll be in a cast. He also dropped a bombshell: there's a very high chance the bone won't fuse at all, meaning I could live with a compromised arm for the rest of my life. And this is my right arm. I'm only 25! I can't wrap my head around that. Is there any other way to handle this? Please, I need advice ASAP.