Skin Graft Surgery 9/14/2020

Here is a good explanation on Compartment Syndrome + why Brigham needed a fasciotomy. 


On the drive to Huntsman Hospital in SLC we got a video call from his friend Leo (who is serving an LDS mission in Idaho) it was perfect timing and a fun distraction.  We got to the hospital at 9:00am to check in.

We were together in Pre-Op for about 3 hours.  It took 3 tries to get the IV in and all 3 of them hurt.  Good thing Brig is tough.  Luckily they didn't remove the wound vac until he was in surgery, one less moment of pain.  You will notice he is wearing his new ARSENAL face mask that my brother + SIL got him.  

Dr. Hobson came in and explained the skin graft surgery, which I found interesting. They use something that looks like an industrial cheese grater to remove skin from his right thigh. Then they run it through another machine that makes holes in it so it looks like mesh.  Once the skin is mesh-like it can be stretched and then stitched on the fasciotomy site. Since it can stretch it allows them to remove less skin from his thigh.

The surgery lasted about 2 hours. After they finished the skin graft was in place they put the wound vac back on. It will stay in place until next Tuesday when we have a follow up with the surgeon Dr. Hobson in Dr. Agarwal's office. They put his lower leg + ankle in a splint keeping his calf muscles immobile so the graft is not disrupted so it can stay in place and heal.  Surgery went well and we look forward to this next step being done.

Brigham comes out of anesthesia well and fairly quickly.  I went back in with him in post-op where we got discharge information and helped him get dressed. Jeremy picked us up around 4pm and we headed home. So glad that it was an outpatient surgery.

All the nurses we saw were curious about why he had fasciotomy's and his original injury.  The paperwork must say very little.  As always everyone if blown away that he is alive + doing so well. 

Now Brigham is back to resting + healing in his bed. He is learning patience because he is really ready to move on to physical therapy. 


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