In surgery, they placed an external fixator, which means he has restricted mobility of his wrist. He has two percutaneous (through the skin) pins through his radius to hold the fracture in place and promote healing. He then has four percutaneous pins (two in the hand and two further up in the forearm) with a rod connecting between them. This is the "external fixator". It is on either side of the fracture to stabilize the bone and the wrist so that he does not have excessive motion, which could significantly impact the healing of the fracture.
It's been a week since his surgery. He has been in extreme pain, only relieved by the medication.. but then he sleeps more. He missed class Monday, but has been to every class starting Tuesday. His boss is being extremely helpful and understanding, and is letting him miss work as needed.
We went to a follow up visit with Dr. Duke today, and he told us that the external fixator may only need to be on for three more weeks, then a possible cast. They took all of the gause and bandages covering his arm, and checked to make sure the wound sites were clean. They left the sutures in place, and recovered his arm with clean gause and bandages. Johnathan was in an extreme amount of pain during the bandage change, but he was a trooper and made it through!
We return back in three weeks, and they will take more x-rays. They may decide to remove the external fixator at that time and possibly place a cast, and of course they gave him more pain meds.
Thanks!!!
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