Rider has EXTREME INJURY...CCS Medical Procedures/ Rules????

Started by kcasey, April 17, 2011, 12:29:17 PM

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kcasey

Does anyone know the protocol that should be followed from the time a corner worker approaches a fallen rider to when the ambulance arrives?  Also are there any rules or regulations stating where the rider is transported depending on the injury (hospital, urgent care center, ER etc...)?  Who makes these decisions on the health status of the rider or where they go from the track? I am having a hard time finding what guidelines are used.  Please help!! 

This past weekend at CMP (Carolina Motorsports Park) CCS practice I had front brake failure going into turn 14, last turn on the track.  After downshifting as much as possible and applying rear brake I eventually ran off.  Thinking, no big deal I didn't make the turn but I'll just come to a rolling stop then pit in to check out my bike.  Everything was fine through the grass but when I hit the sand the bike did a nose dive.  I felt like I hit a brick wall.  This resulted in the bike and myself getting pitched 30 ft in the air.  I tried my best to push myself away from the bike but it was too late.  The nose of my bike landed on my knee, bounced off and tumbled in the opposite direction.  I knew I has hurt pretty bad but at this point I could still move all my toes, legs, etc...  A corner worker approached me, asked me the typical questions then told me she had to take off my boot.  I made it very clear something in my knee was damaged and not to move it or take off my boot.  Just a moment later I watcher her reach for my foot, before I could get the word NO out of my mouth she continued by grabbing my heel and lifting it toward the sky.  I immediately heard a loud CRACK CRACK and the pain became unbearable. 

After that I could no longer move my lower leg on my own.  Then the ambulance, other corner workers and a friend of mine showed up.  Once getting me stable they asked me... "Are you SURE you need to go to the hospital"  I said yes, my leg is broken so lets go! The ambulance of course had no suspension what-so-ever so the ride out of the track was awful.  Also this ambulance had no ice, no pain medication, no anti-inflamatories, no knee brace, no iv, no saleen solution NOTHING.  Half way to the hospital we had to pull on the side of the road and meet with another ambulance just to give me an IV. 

Once we got to what I THOUGHT was a hospital I was appalled by the competence level and service given.  It took them over an hour to give me ice and 2 hours or more to get a brace on my leg.  They left me on the dirty stretcher used to pick me up from the track, no pillows just a board covered in dirt.  The support given to my knee was a rolled up rag supported with my hands.  I could go on and on and on about the neglectful care or lack there of at Kershaw Health Medical Center. 

Point of the story is there was NO SURGEON ON STAFF AT ALL, NO ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST, NOTHING!  I was never shown my x-rays or explained the extent of my injuries.  When I asked for the on-call surgeon to come see me the response from the doctor was... "Hang on I'll call him on my cell phone but I can't have you talk to him because there is no cell phone reception in your room.  I will let you know what he says"  What kind of a professional medical response is that?  How is an orthopedic surgeon going to properly diagnose me with out looking at films, and without even taking an mri or ct scan???  No one even tested any of my nerves for damage.  Someone came to wrap my leg up with a fiber glass splint, telling me he really doesn't  know what he is doing, and that he has never splinted a leg before.  The girl who normally splints the legs isn't here today.  My mouth dropped in awe, I didn't even know how to respond.  The staff could not even tell me what medicine i should take nor where the closest pharmacy was.  The next day, Saturday I returned to CMP waiting for a ride to the airport.  I had to fly home where my parents could drive me to doctors appointments and take care of me considering I can no even get out of bed to go to the bathroom.  While waiting at the track a corner worker saw my leg casted... he asked if I would need surgery, I said Yes... the corner worker replied with "well if we knew you were SERIOUSLY hurt, we would have taken you to the GOOD Hospital".

Since then I have seen 5 surgeons including the Director of Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the Rothman Institute, who refused to operate on me because the complexities of my injury are so bad he has never seen anything like it, nor is he capable of fixing my leg.  I ended up having to consult a trauma surgeon, who has only seen 6 cases similar to mine but none of them were this severe.  Because of the neglect from the time of my accident to leaving the "urgent care center" I now need 3 or more surgeries and have developed scar tissue from the improper placement of the splint from Kershaw Medical.  I could go on but I think you get the point!  My first surgery will be at University of Pennsylvania Monday April 18, 2011.  This procedure will require three incisions, and a 6 hour table time for the operation.  Every ligament in my knee is damaged, PCL, MCL, ACL, Miniscis, my tibial plateau is crushed in over 20 bone chunks all surrounding my main artery and nerves.  In order to clean up the fragments the main incision is made behind my knee, splitting in half my calf muscle... there is a 50/50 chance of surgery going well.  It's all or nothing, if the surgeon hits the nerves and artery then I will loose my leg during surgery.  There is so much damage aside from that I will be in bed for 3 months before allowed on crutches even. 

Concerned Rider, PLEASE HELP

Kristin Casey

SVbadguy

I don't know about procedures at CMP, but as a MARRC cornerworker at Summit Pt we DO NOT touch crashed and obviously injured riders unless it's a case of them re-entering a hot track because they are disoriented or whatever.


Sounds like they only had EMT basics and not a paramedic on the crew there.  Paramedics are the ones trained for giving IVs and medications.
Mid-Atlantic Region 
MARRC Exec Committee at-large & Radio Committee Chair

roadracer162

Kristin,

The first place to start is to contact the Race Promoter which I think would probably be Kevin Elliott. if it were a Florida Region race that would be Henry.

An accident report(done by Kevin Elliott) and the initial medical report will be needed for documentation of initial care.

General protocols are dependent upon the local agency and their medical direction. it also depends on what entity is providing care on the premises whether private(Ambulance service) or public(Fire Rescue). I know first hand of your nightmare when I had broken my ribs in 2007. I had to teach the on staff Paramedic how to apply a sling to assist support of my arm. I also sat for 6 hours in the ER before they realized I had broken ribs much less 9 of them. From there the flood gates opened up where they wanted to dose me with multiple pain medsin which I refused. I had no pain to require to be knocked down with pain meds. Oh yead, the trauma surgeon wanted to keep me for 5 days and stick a chest tube in me. Thre was no punctured lung.

If you want to take this to a private conversation hit me up on facebook or email.

Mark
Mark Tenn
CCS Ex #22
Mark Tenn Motorsports, Michelin tire guy in Florida.

CCS

This incident happened on Friday during Cornerspeed's event, so best to contact them.

Get well soon Kristin
Kevin Elliott
Director of Operations-CCS/ASRA
Fort Worth, TX
817-246-1127

smoke54


alexm

I don't know what the protocol is, but wanted to wish you a speedy and full recovery; I'm really sorry to hear about your accident and experience you had afterwards.

roadracer162

Mark Tenn
CCS Ex #22
Mark Tenn Motorsports, Michelin tire guy in Florida.

Simon

I'll keep my fingers crossed for her. It sounds like an aweful ordeal.
MARRC Cornerworker
CCS AM 48
Always in the gravel, one way or another!
www.marrc.org

JOHN 3:16

CCS Chaplain

roadracer162

Mark Tenn
CCS Ex #22
Mark Tenn Motorsports, Michelin tire guy in Florida.

Ducmarc

Sometimes you read something and you really don't know what to say. I sure hope your surgery went well. My experience at jennings was positive the corner workers would not let me move they cut my leathers off in the ambulance. Removed my boot but cut my socks (still have them) the ride was fast but harsh. Once valdosta decided it was out of their league they airlifted me to shands which took care of me well.    Remember this when everyone wants to go race in Jamaica or some central american track

50Joe

CCS SE Expert #25
ASRA Pro #25
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AHRMA # x22
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