Multifragmentary distal crural fracture ski injury in an athlete: a case report.

While alpine skiing, a professional skater fell. He was examined at the nearest hospital and diagnosis was distal crural fracture with multifragmentary tibial metaphysis. The patient left the hospital with only temporary immobilization after the suggested treatment for his injury was crural amputation. Thirteen hours after injury he arrived at his home hospital. He was immediately operated on to perform osteosynthesis on his left lower leg. The healing of the damaged soft tissue as well as the bones was excellent even though Sudeck's syndrome appeared. Six month after injury he returned to skating and 1 year after injury he had completely returned to his everyday athletic routine without any complications.