Patient: Kyle DeTuncq
Procedure: Hand Surgery
Provider: Dr. Hoover
Location: Sentara Martha Jefferson
It was Saturday and I was in my happy place, weaving through the backwoods of Afton Mountain, when my dirt bike bounced down into a dry creek bed marred by deep ditches and slopes. I dropped off on one side of the path and tried to get the front wheel up, but instead I lost control. I fell off the bike sideways at about 20-30 miles per hour, and I put my arm out to break my fall.
In doing so, I broke two bones in his wrist and tore the labrum tissue surrounding his shoulder joint.
Seeing the X-rays in the Emergency Department (ED) at Sentara Martha Jefferson, I knew I was in trouble. You don’t realize all the simple things you do in life that you really need both hands for—like tying your shoes, buttoning your shirt and brushing your teeth—until you can’t use them. And, of course, I knew that for a while I wouldn’t be able to do the things I really enjoy, like riding my bike, lifting weights and playing football.
I also knew it would affect my full-time work as a project manager for a local homebuilder, which involves a lot of typing and sometimes requires me to step in and help out at construction sites.
Though the ED doctors were confident that my shoulder injury would heal on its own, the fractures in the wrist would likely require surgery. I was immediately referred to Dr. Hoover, who told me it was a violent break, but he was confident that he could get me back to 90-100 percent mobility.
I felt pretty good after my evaluation with Dr. Hoover and was eager to get on with the surgery. As I was getting prepped for surgery, the anesthesiologist told me that Dr. Hoover had done her hand surgery, so I was pretty confident that everything was going to be OK.
The surgery involved fixing my scaphoid with a screw and piecing the radius back together with a screw and plate. I was then fitted with a hard cast and some additional soft bandaging and sent home.
The cast kept my hand immobile for about a week. Dr. Hoover recommended physical therapy to ensure a speedy recovery and, within three weeks, I was able to do most of my normal activities again.
Several months after my initial surgery, I elected to have my plate removed to avoid any future issues. Dr. Hoover recommended that I go ahead and have the second surgery because I was so young and active, and because I had healed so quickly from the first injury. That healed up quickly as well, and there was absolutely no pain. It was incredible.
Today, I’m happy to report I’m back to my regular life of lifting weights, playing football and racing my dirt bike out in the woods. While I can’t promise that I’ll always be completely careful on the bike, one thing is certain: If this kind of thing ever happens again, I’m definitely going back to Dr. Hoover and Sentara Martha Jefferson Orthopedics.