Amazing Orthopedic Care: Andrés' Story	cancer care orthopedic care cardiology care neurology care neonatology care	neurosurgery care oncology care hemotology care gastroenterology care one amazing place    DONATE NOW
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Watching Andrés on the soccer field today, you’d never know that two years before, the 14-year-old had two broken legs, one with a compound fracture.

In December 2005, while visiting friends in Concord, Andrés borrowed a Razor scooter. Chased by another boy, and unfamiliar with the roads, Andrés accidentally shot out into traffic on the scooter. A surprised motorist on Clayton Valley Road hit him. By chance, a Concord police officer was there. She stopped traffic, and soon the unconscious Andrés was being airlifted to Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland.

Andres' mother arrived at Children's Hospital just in time to see Andrés her son on his way to the operating room. With help from x-rays, James Policy,MD, a veteran pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's, quickly sized up Andrés' situation.Andrés had a broken left tibia, the larger of the two lower leg bones, and he had lost three teeth. But the worst damage was to his right leg. Andrés' right femur, the big bone in his thigh, had broken in two places,piercing the skin. The small middle piece, about an inch long, had flipped around 90 degrees, and the leg's main artery was injured.

Dr. Policy couldn't detect a pulse in the leg. He knew any delay in treatment could cost the boy his leg. But for a kid Andrés' age, he knew exactly which technique would work best. It was dramatically different from that used for an adult's injury. "This is the type of surgery we do frequently," said Dr. Policy. "Femur fractures require a certain degree of expertise; it's one of the things that makes a pediatric trauma center necessary."

Adult treatment of a femur fracture is straightforward: Insert a metal rod through the central core of the femur and attach two screws, one at either end, to prevent twisting. But in growing kids, this procedure won't work. It can actually cause irreparable damage to the ball-and-socket hip joint.

For then-12-year-old Andrés, Dr. Policy used an external fixator. It's a steel rod running outside and parallel to the leg. He inserted smaller rods into the two main femur sections and then attached them to the fixator rod, holding the leg bones in place. In a second surgery, the small piece of orphan bone between femur sections was removed.

The surgeries were successful, and the next day Dr. Policy detected a pulse in Andrés' right leg. After six days in the hospital, Andrés went home, where a hospital-style bed had been delivered. For months his mother slept in the same room with him ready to help. It took several months, but Andrés grew new bone to fill in the gap, making his right femur whole. "This is the kind of injury when you're happy if you can walk again," said Dr. Policy. "It's just amazing, the recovery he has had. All the credit goes to Andrés. He did all the work."

Andrés also got help from Caryn Lesko, PT, in Children's Pediatric
Rehabilitation department. She did physical therapy with Andrés until he could get out of his wheelchair and use crutches. Then Sports Medicine physical therapists took over. Therapist Robin Bousquet, MPT, had already met Andrés, joining Dr. Policy at each clinic session. Andres worked with Caryn and Robin doing rehab at Children's Sports Medicine Center for about seven months.

Credit also goes to Andrés’ coach and teammates. Miguel took Andrés, and his wheelchair when necessary, to every soccer practice and match for the entire season.

The day Andrés came home from physical therapy without his crutches, his mother knew he’d be OK. She was so excited, she got on the phone and called the driver of the car that hit Andrés. The driver’s wife answered. Carmen told her how well Andrés was doing. “You don’t know what this means to me,” said the wife. “My husband has been so concerned, so worried.” When the driver finally got on the phone and heard about Andrés’ recovery, there were tears at both ends of the phone call.

The post-accident Andrés, once the fastest kid in school, is now second fastest. That speed helps at his favorite position on the soccer field: center midfield. “You can go anywhere you want,” said Andrés. “You run a lot more. You pass a lot, but I get some goals too. I don’t like to stand. I’d rather run.” Andrés is running again—fierce— and free.