Local patient overcomes severe fractures, grueling rehabilitation
April 08, 2014
SPOKANE, Wash. (April 8, 2014) – After shattering his ankle and leg in a hockey game, Patrick Lynch thought amputation might be his only option. But Dr. Brian J. Padrta, foot and ankle surgeon at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, had another solution.
“Patrick sustained severe compound fractures in both his tibia and fibula,” Dr. Padrta explains. “But over the course of two years and seven successful surgeries, we were able to repair his fractured bones and restore mobility in his ankle through an ankle fusion procedure.”
During an ankle fusion procedure, Dr. Padrta removes damaged ankle cartilage and improves stability through the implantation of pins within the ankle to keep the bones in place.
Just eight months following his ankle fusion, Lynch is making the most of his successful recovery.
“I am back to walking without pain,” he says. “I biked all spring and summer, building back the muscles in my leg.”
He has also returned to hiking, hunting, skiing and even ice-skating pain-free.
For more information regarding ankle injuries, conditions and treatment options or severe fractures, please call Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists at (509) 344-2663.
Committed to providing exceptional specialty bone, joint and muscle care through 27 highly trained doctors, Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists has remained the leader in orthopaedic care in the Pacific Northwest for more than 50 years. The doctors and staff of Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists pride themselves on continuously delivering compassionate, individualized care to each and every patient for the treatment of back and neck, shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist, hip, knee, foot and ankle, sports medicine, joint replacement and revision, interventional pain management and trauma and fracture care. For more information on Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists and its doctors, visit www.nworthospecialists.com, “like” Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists on Facebook or follow @NWOrthopaedics on Twitter.
