The X-Rays were photographed first, as that seemed to be the only way to get them to scan properly. There''s three here, click to see a (very) large image of them...

August 4th 1998 This is the X-ray taken after being admitted to the ER. And after a brace had been put on to try to straighten the leg. What you can see is the top of my femur, then there is one large piece almost in line, with a small piece out to the right. To the left there is another smaller piece, then the longer section of bone is in fact another 3 pieces. There;s a seventh piece at the end of the bottom half of my femur going straight up, then three pieces outside my body - one was replaced, the others were lost.

This one is taken about 12 hours after surgery, you can imagine my reaction upon seeing it. I had illusions that they would just piece it all together like a kit and there would be just a couple of bumps. In my morphine addled brain all I could come up with was "Where's the rest of it ?"

September 9th 1998 OK, one month on. This always amazes me, how the body and muscles pushed the bone back into place. There is some growth visible at the bottom end of the break, inside the largest piece of bone. This followed a month on a CPM machine (Constant Passive Motion) which would run 24 hours a day bending and straightening my leg. Ask me about my preferences in Class A controlled painkillers :-)

Email addresses :- Home! [tri_gimper@hotmail.com] Work [andrew.murdock@telos.com]