My KTM 690 Adventure

[Eddieb]

Oh crap, sorry to hear that.

It's been a bad riding season this year.

[richyrich]

bit of bad luck there Veg,i know what it's like to break the tib n fib. most important,how's the bike :-)
my 690 has only ever known proper knobbies.
hope you mend quickly.

[andy mac]

Hey Vege, you weren't listening to the briefing when they said they didn't want to use the Westpac helicopter, were you?
This is the culprit hill, where I also was overwhelmed by gravity.
Hope that makes you feel happier & quick healing

[NordieBoy]

This is the culprit hill, where I also was overwhelmed by gravity.

Those hills that have no defined track down and are crisscrossed by sheep tracks give me the shits.

[vegeman]

Shit man, that is no good. Hope your recovery goes well.

But great to hear I am not the only one who puts knobblies on their 690 and hits the trail rides.

Yeah....thanks I hope it goes well to. The break is below the knee so its going to be bit of a pain to repair...but we'll see. I'm in good condition...so hopefully that will help.

Yes, I was really pleased with the bike with real fresh knobblies...the bike felt good, which may have given me more mojo...as normally I refrain from the A stuff, just becaise the bike has a bit of weight, and can make it a handful if I cock it up, which clearly came true.

Nordie...I haven't seen the bike, but I think I broke one indicator...amd also broke off the Hero cam off the helmet. I 'may' have footage but my mate feels that the movie file is there, but it has an issue, I'll have a better look once I get back home

V

[vegeman]

Hey Vege, you weren't listening to the briefing when they said they didn't want to use the Westpac helicopter, were you?
This is the culprit hill, where I also was overwhelmed by gravity.
Hope that makes you feel happier & quick healing

ha, good stuff indeed...yes thats mother father....I just shouldn't have had a go, ...stupid, dumb !@#

and yes, me no listen

[Night Falcon]

Hey Veg Sorry to hear bout ya leg mate that sounds nasty!!!

Just got out of hospital today myself after 9 days. Have been very unwell since returning from Phuket turned out I had ruptured my appendix couple days after returning but not diagnosed for further 14days....major surgery insued and 9 days of what I can only describe as "hell" trying to overcome infections, but on the mend now.

take care

NF

[vegeman]

Hey thanks, and nice to hear from you (yuk, infections are bad in so many ways)....

Today was a good day...as I just had the main operation today rebuild the tibia platter. I was wheel down to theatre at 10am and back to ward at 7pm (I'm amazed really, on how good I feel)

The main reason for the positive attitude was to do with the results from the CT scan, and that the top of the tibia was pulverized by my femur, I asked the specialist 'how bad' and he said that take some weetbix, then hit that with a hammer...bugger huh. So the bone was splintered and then pulverized, and then with all the bits in the kneecap...feeling pretty bummed before going into what will be my 5th operation under full general.

Then many hours later, I awake in recovery and get informed that the operation went as good as it go, and probably better. They didn't need bone tissue extracted from my pelvis, they didn't need skin grafts, the only needed 1 plate instead of 2, and best of all, I will have a smooth bearing surface on the tibia....which considering that didn't exist in its current state, is simple amazing.

I gotta go...my eyes can't stay open

Later
good to hear that you are healing

[Aslan]

Sorry to read of your injury vergeman - wishing you all the best for your recovery

[vegeman]

hey...did the unveiling and planning to get out tomorrow...thought I'd post a pic of the engineering work...pretty cool shit.

the big scars/cuts in either side relate to the complication of the compartment syndrome..do those were the 'release cuts' to get the pressure out.

10 days later, they worked on the pulverized tibia...which is what the halo thing around the top is doing. I count 10 wires (probably 5 ins and outs) going into the leg which is individually holding a broken bit in place. The external carbon rods are connected to steel pins drilled into the lower tibia and hold the halo in place. there is also a titanium alloy plate and 2 screws, that add to the strength so...its all pretty secure.

Am lucky I have all the frame stuff below the knee which means I should get some movement once the swelling goes down. Not sure about things like cartilage and ligaments ...but these can be addressed later.

[Night Falcon]

Yeowch!

you have to admire the engineering work going on there, maybe those doctors might like to do some moonlighting building rally bikes

[DR Girl]

Vegeman, you poor thing. Was so sorry to read. Coming into winter you will need to keep that leg & foot warm esp at night. Maybe get a lekky blanket ? Also like many others, have been there with West Pac chopper ride after a trail ride. Funny how we NEVER think it will be us in one of those & just think poor bugger as it leaves. I broke fibula top & bottom & tibia in 3 places just above the ankle & radius in wrist in2 many bits. I was lucky they fixed me with a rod & plates but I was very close to getting the outside engineering like you.
Other then a lump of extra bone just above my angle & a lot of faint scars I'm pretty much back to new. Lots of physio. swimming & strengthening work at the gym tho. Fast speed with your recovery. My thoughts are with you.

Marty, you didn't look good when I saw you at Hv Nth Mobil, no wonder !!. You would have been in a lot of pain & I imagine only with Panadol. Glad they got to the bottom of it & you are on the mend. Take care & let me know when you are up to riding. OR LOL I could exercise the 690 for you.

[vegeman]

Vegeman, you poor thing. Was so sorry to read. Coming into winter you will need to keep that leg & foot warm esp at night. Maybe get a lekky blanket ? Also like many others, have been there with West Pac chopper ride after a trail ride. Funny how we NEVER think it will be us in one of those & just think poor bugger as it leaves. I broke fibula top & bottom & tibia in 3 places just above the ankle & radius in wrist in2 many bits. I was lucky they fixed me with a rod & plates but I was very close to getting the outside engineering like you.
Other then a lump of extra bone just above my angle & a lot of faint scars I'm pretty much back to new. Lots of physio. swimming & strengthening work at the gym tho. Fast speed with your recovery. My thoughts are with you.

thx for you support and sharing war stories. I've been in hospital 13 days now, and have seen people come and go...whats been interesting is how most of the accidents have been just that...accidental and down right unlucky. I've replayed all the what if's on that ride...and sure, perhaps there was an option to affect the outcome but am accepting that it was just a freak event. no one knew the hole was there. I had the NZSO violinist who was trying to improve his cellphone coverage, and tripped down the stairs to land nicely on both knee caps. Saved his hands and fingers but pulled both quads and ligaments of each knee cap. ouch.

There was another story about a guy riding his horse for mustering and during a steep climb up the hill the horse lost traction, in that split second of trying to jump off, he tumbled down the small bank only to have the horse land on him and completely crush his pelvis...

shit just happens.

I should walk again (running or carrying a pack will be marginal) but still can hug my kids, and I'll be riding again in no time...so I'm quite positive about the hole thing.


PS...whats was the Marty thing? in the same thread...I was trying to relate the two together, as I also ride the 690...so got confused. I am on paraceatamol, ibuprofen, (off the morphine now) tramadol, severdol, pussy-cat-dol - lol

[DR Girl]

Sorry Vegeman, the last paragraph was to Night Falcon ( Marty ). That will teach me to multi task. LOL
You are right it's just one of those things that happen. I wasn't even do any thing tooooo difficult at the time, just a bit too fast down a grassy hill, standing on my foot pegs & it was the metal tank that clunked hard on my left leg & busted it on v hard ground. My right wrist just because I tried to stop myself rolling down the hill.
Never had a broken limb or a stitch in my life, & believe me I've had some good offs on trail rides prior.
I was in hospital only for 5days, then back again for another op for 2 days & during that time had a similar aged 50 year female in with a broken leg for just falling down a back step with a washing basket. Course she didn't have the metal work I had, but in a weird way I felt good because I was ( as you were) out there DOING IT & going HARD And 3 years on I still have heaps to talk about re that ride & plenty of photo's. You will be same. It wasn't easy for my hubby & kids having to do all the work that I would normally do & to care for me. But they soon got into a routine.
I love being back riding again & are doing more Adv riding than dirt now to be safe. Any down hill dirt rides under similar conditions do put the willy's into me but I guess I just need to harden up or close my eyes.

[vegeman]

you make me laugh...nice work DRgirl...

I look forward to catching up with Marty and the rest of the crew. I'll make special trip up to the hwakes for some event..so we can all share scars