[74-911]

July 19 about 7PM, wife walking around on driveway talking on phone. Cardinal sin: had on flip flops ( a big no no we had discussed many times). Stumbles and trips on an uneven expansion joint. I help her up, she takes 2 steps and collapses. I look at her knee and diail 911. EMTs take her to the nearest trauma center (Hermann Memorial). She spends most of the night on a gurney in a hallway in the ER as they have no available rooms and are very short staffed.

July 20 about 6 PM into surgery to repair knee cap which is now in 4 pieces. Per surgeon, it goes great but gonna be a long haul.

July 21 about 4 PM discharged and sent home (this is another story in itself !!). She has a full length metal brace completely immobilizing her leg. This will be the situation for the next 6 weeks. After a few days was able (with a lot of help) to get out of bed and use walker to slowly move around. Can put weight on the leg but absolutely no bending. In home PT twice a week to exercise some muscles and other exercises to do daily.

6 weeks later begin in home PT 2 times a week to start bending knee in 10 degree increments.. 10 degrees each week and assigned numerous exercise to do daily. Goal to bend 90 degrees at end of 6 weeks... makes it to 80+ degrees but knee is very stiff. Leg still immobilized with brace unless doing PT. Gets around quite will with walker.

6 weeks later brace comes off and starts PT at nearby facility 3 times a week and will do this for 4 weeks then back to Dr. to evaluate..

She can now get around pretty well but reverts to stiff legging it unless she concentrates on it. Main problem now is swelling in calf and angle.

So we are now pushing 4 months since fall and still a long way from really walking normal and still continuous PT twice a week.

Conclusion: If you are a 75 YO post menopausal female, do not wear flip flops and a broken knee cap is really bad news.

She gets a bit depressed at times because progress seems to be so slow but Dr. told it would be a long haul and just keep after it...

Not trying to downplay knee replacement surgery but it could be a lot worse