“What kind of surgery?” The twins ask in unison, effectively creeping out the doctors.
My surgeon, Dr. Klause, coughs into his hand and eyes the girls. The fifty-something man looks a bit uncomfortable, which means that my girls are accomplishing their goal. “In a few days,” the poor man starts before all the women ask, “why a few days?”
“Just let the man finish please?” I groan.
Dr. Klause waits a few seconds before continuing. “We typically wait a few days for the swelling around the fracture to go down. We will be keeping the arm immobilized and elevated to make the swelling go down faster. The procedure that I’ll be performing is called an open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws.”
“Plate and screws! You can’t just glue it back together when you’re in there?” Becca exclaims.
“Becs, honey, please just shut up for a few minutes. For me?” I ask.
She shuts her mouth and only gives me a mildly annoyed look.
“During the procedure,” the doctor continues without missing a beat. “The bone fragments are first repositioned into their normal alignment. They are held together with special screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone. However, once in there, I may decide to do an internal fixation with a rod instead. A specially designed metal rod would be inserted through the marrow space in the center of the bone.”
“Ouch.” Paige whispers loudly. I completely agree with that sentiment.
“Truthfully, I want to be able to examine it before deciding. Given your occupation, I want to make the best choices for your recovery.” Dr. Klause states.
“I appreciate that.”
“What type of complications come with a surgery like this?” Sage, ever the practical one questions.
“Every procedure comes with a risk of complications. As with any surgery, there is a small risk of infection. There is also a minor risk of injury to nerves and blood vessels around the forearm. Although, some temporary numbness is common right after injury. You would only need to call me if the numbness persists or if you get tingling in your fingers. There is also another rare complication called synostosis. It’s basically a bridge of bone that heals in between the two bones. It would end up decreasing your ability to rotate the bones and would prevent full movement. And.”
“And! There’s more?” Missy questions with eyes as large as saucers.
The doctor’s lips twitch. “Just this last one, I promise.” He pauses and Missy motions for him to continue. I’m beginning to realize that this man must have a daughter or two with how he’s able to just roll with it. “This complication is called nonunion. Surgery doesn’t guarantee that the fracture will heal. The fracture may pull apart, or the screws, plates, or rods may shift. Or even break. But judging from your medical history, the only reason that this would occur is if you weren’t to follow all post op instructions. Otherwise, you are a great candidate for this procedure.”
I nod my head slowly. “Okay, what type of recovery am I looking at?”
“Unfortunately this type of injury isn’t quick healing.”
“Of course it isn’t.” I mutter.
“Forearm bones typically take three to six months to fully heal. Depending on the stability, you may need a cast or brace two to six weeks after surgery. However, motion exercises for the forearm, wrist, and elbow will begin shortly after the procedure. Early motion is important to prevent stiffness. You’ll also need physical and occupational therapy, depending on how long your arm needs to be immobilized.”
“Okay, sounds good.” I agree. I mean, what else can I really say.
“Wonderful. We’ll have you brought up to a room on the Ortho floor shortly. We’ll have you stay here with us that way we can manage your pain while keeping a close eye on your arm. I’m going to schedule you for surgery within four or five days. Any questions?” He looks directly at the girls when he says his last words. All three shake their heads no. Yeah, this man definitely has daughters.
“No, thank you doctor.”
Dr. Klause taps the end of my bed. “I will be around to check on you tomorrow. Just take it easy and try to relax.” He says before walking out with the ER doctor trailing him.
I look around at everyone standing here and am taken aback when I see the smile on Brad’s face. He looks like the cat that ate the cream. I raise an eyebrow and give him a questioning look. “Why the hell do you look so damn happy. I was just told that I had to have surgery and that I’m looking at a long ass recovery.” I mean damn. When he was all laid up, I sure as hell wasn’t happy about it.
“Dad is right. You look kinda gleeful.” Missy states before Paige goes. “That’s pretty messed up Brad.”
Brad raises his hands. “I can assure you, that I am not happy that you’re hurt. Really, I would not wish this on anyone. Trust me, I know how much injuries like this suck.” His face clouds over, probably remembering his own recovery. I can tell that we all wish that we hadn’t said anything. But just as quickly as his frown appears, it disappears and his creepy smile is back. “But I can guarantee that you’ll be in good hands.”
“The doctor is good?” Sage asks.
“Huh?” Brad gives her a confused look before waving her off. “Oh, yeah he’s fine. I meant up on the Ortho floor.”
“How would you know? I thought that you deliver babies now?” Becca questions, eyeing him suspiciously.
He nods his head with a big smile on his face. “That I do terrifying one, that I do. It’s nice to see innocence come into this world before it transforms into evil.”
“I feel like that was a dig at us.” Missy mutters.
Brad grabs his chest dramatically. “Would I ever do something like that?” He looks around at all of our blank stares and rolls his eyes. “Anyway, as I was saying, I happen to know that there are some amazing nurses up on Ortho. One in particular that I’m sure will take very good care of you.”
“Ewww, please tell me that you are not going to have my dad end up with some hoochie nurse.” Becca frowns.
I can feel my heart rate pick up. There’s no way.
“I am a million percent sure that this nurse is in no way, shape, or form a hoochie. Trust me, she’s as far from that as you can get.” Brad sniffs.
“Wait!” Paige gasps and looks around the room with a cautious smile. “Didn’t Stacey transfer to the Orthopedic floor a few months ago?”
Brad taps his index finger against his lip. “Hmmm, she did…didn’t she?” He gives me a sly look. “I guess that you’ll be very well taken care of.”
“Unless she decides to screw up my meds and kill me.” I grumble.
“Couldn’t blame her.” The twin terrors say.
Sage and Paige just shrug and nod their heads in agreement. “The love and support that I get from the four of you is amazing.” I infuse as much sarcasm into my tone as possible.
“We do support you.” Sage says, giving me the stink eye. “Unless it’s your fault that you’re in the mess in the first place.”
“Anyway, I should be getting back to work. I need to get back to my patients that have specifically requested me today.” He winks at me before turning and walking out.