Hubby broke his pelvis!!!!

[Darchild77]

My husband was riding his 4 wheeler yesterday, when he roled it over. After it hit him, he had to get up, push the 4 wheeler back on all fours, and ride on it side ways home. Once he got home, we somehow got him in the car and to the ER. X-rays showed that the "ball" of his femur went right through and crushed his socket on one side!!! He was then transferred from our hospital to a hospital that actually does orthopedics. He won't be able to have surgery until friday or monday due to inflammation, but they will have to reconstruct his socket, and in the future may need a total hip replacement!!!!! He won't be able to bear weight for at least 3 months, after waiting so long for summer, he will not be able to do anything. Just to add to our worries, he has 0 insurance (I call him my hubby, but haven't married yet). I'm just wondering how long until he can actually leave the hospital, and if he will problems walking or being active in the future because of this. I just never imagined something like this would happen, and feel as if our lives have been turned upside down!! I'm scared.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

No way of telling, is pretty much dependant on how he heals, how much pain tolerance he has and if any surgery goes "by the book". Good luck, it might be a long summer.

[Darchild77]

well it's been about 2 weeks and he is now in inpatient rehab. He has footdrop and they tried to electrically stim that muscle with no response. This scares me!!! He will be non weight bearing for 4 months!!! lost his job and is painful:it's a wonderful life! FYI to any nurse that might do this: when a pt is writhing in pain and the pain meds aren't helping don't ask them if they are a drug user because it is irrelevent. It's not like you would withold meds because they are, and he was already asked when he was initially assessed. you don't ask when they are out of their minds inpain!!! anyway, they say he will come home on friday, but they restarted his IV saying he's dehydrated, has increasing BP and a HR of 130 since his injury occured. Also had a fever for 7 days without antibiotics: is this the norm?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Sorry to hear about his hard time. Hope he gets well soon. Fevers two weeks post op are not quite the norm. They should work him for for that. Respiratory complications from bedrest are common, as well as UTI's, especially if he's dehydrated. Good luck.

[suzanne4, RN]

Fevers are not normal this long out. Fever for seven days? Cultures are definitely a yes.... As Tweety said, they need to consider a respiratory basis since he is not getting around much. For the foot drop, you can try getting him a pair of hi-top gym shoes. We used to use these alot with our neuro patients and had good results. Two hours on and two hours off.

Hopefully things will get better for you when he comes home.

Thinking of you................ :balloons: