American ski racer Lindsey Vonn revealed Monday that she narrowly avoided amputation following a frightening crash during the women’s downhill at the Milan Cortina Olympics on . The 41-year-old Vonn detailed the extent of her injuries, which went far beyond the initially reported complex tibia fracture in her left leg.
In a post on Instagram, Vonn explained that the trauma from the crash led to compartment syndrome, a condition where excessive pressure builds up inside a muscle, restricting blood flow and potentially causing permanent damage. She also sustained a tibial plateau fracture and a fractured fibular head in her left leg and additionally broke her right ankle.
“When you have so much trauma to one area of your body so that there’s too much blood and it gets stuck and it basically crushes everything,” Vonn wrote in her post. “All the muscle and nerves and tendons, it all kind of dies.”
Vonn credited Dr. Tom Hackett, an orthopedic surgeon who works with both her and Team USA, with saving her leg. “He filleted it open (and) let it breathe, and he saved me,” she said. She noted that Dr. Hackett was present at the Olympics specifically because she had torn her ACL shortly before the games, a fortunate circumstance that allowed him to intervene.
“If I hadn’t had done that, Tom wouldn’t have been there [and he] wouldn’t have been able to save my leg,” Vonn explained.
Vonn has been discharged from the hospital in Italy, where she spent over a week undergoing multiple surgeries, and has since been transferred to a hospital in Colorado. She underwent a further surgery in the United States last week, a procedure lasting more than six hours.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Vonn expressed gratitude and a lack of regret about competing at the Olympics. I showed up and did what most thought was impossible at my age with a partial knee replacement,
she wrote in a separate Instagram post on . These memories I’ll have forever and I’m grateful for every one of them. Every moment was amazing. Every moment was worth it.
The recovery process will be lengthy. Vonn anticipates approximately a year for the bones to heal, followed by a decision regarding the removal of the metal implants used in the surgeries. Further surgery will then be required to address her ACL tear.
Vonn’s crash and subsequent battle to save her leg highlight the extreme risks inherent in downhill skiing, even for seasoned veterans like herself. Compartment syndrome, as described by the Cleveland Clinic, is an extremely painful condition that can quickly lead to irreversible muscle and nerve damage if not addressed promptly. The quick action of Dr. Hackett proved critical in preventing a far more devastating outcome.
This incident marks the latest chapter in a remarkable career for Vonn, who has overcome numerous injuries throughout her time as one of the world’s most dominant skiers. While her future in the sport remains uncertain, her resilience and determination are undeniable. She is currently recovering in a hotel, describing it as a huge step
towards returning home.
