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Nope, that's straight up bullshit. It was either osteotomized in surgery (cut out), or it was missing as a result of the injury. Both of these are semi common in fractures like that and for the fibula it's fine. The fibula does not bear weight and really just helps add stability tonthe ankle joint, so as long as the lateral malleolus (the bottom of the fibula) is in tact there's usually no problem.
There are several pins in the bones in the X-ray, so they definitely already had surgery, and I'd wager the surgeon has a pretty good idea of where the bone is.
I’m not a doctor but I believe that piece of bone is fairly important
The fibula isn't a weight bearing bone. The part near the ankle is important, as it's part of the joint, but the middle doesn't do much. It's frequently used for bony reconstruction, like for head and neck cancer surgeries.
not to be 'that guy' but its fake
Bone eating bacteria? Had that shit and lost part of my neck.
"No one has any idea" is code for "we know exactly what happened but we don't want to be sued for malpractice by admiting it"
You're so right. Seeing the hardware, it's post-op, so someone made a boo-boo. "No one has any idea" is code for: stalling for time to give the hospital's legal team a head start.
Yeah, If there has been work done on the bones and sudenly a bit is missing...
Also, Are those screws supposed to be poking out? Doesn't that damage all the squisy bits?
Orthopaedic surgery is harrowing stuff... Think of 60's panelbeaters on your squishy stuff in amongst the bones
I had to intubate patients as part of my clinical time for paramedic, which meant time in the OR. Some surgeons would let us hang out and watch the surgery. Orthopedic surgery sounded like a cross between a construction site and an automotive shop. Die grinders, saws, and power drills.
Also, apparently knee replacement involves one guy doing MMA submission moves on the patient's leg while another goes at their exposed, hyper-flexed knee joint with a hammer and chisel.
This one time, I got to have my femur cut mostly through with a saw then slowly bent (did you know bones are viscous?) open and filled in with bone spackle then bolted together with a plate at screws, which was unpleasant.
"Bone spackle" being the #5 worst part of this comment, at most, is quite a fucking achievement.