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Dear editor, A friend sent me an article an your site and after viewing pictures of my recent injury suggested you may be interested.

I am a 44yo male from Melbourne Australia, and on a warm summers day (7/2/02)(ED: That's Feb. 7, 2002) returned a video to my local shop dressed in thongs, t-shirt and shorts. Returning home by foot, I decided to take a route along a creek track. Tripping on an unknown obstacle, I fell down an embankment. After climbing back up to the path I decided to check for any scratches. To my horror a huge flap of skin on my thigh had been ripped from the bone and was gushing profusely with blood.

Using my t-shirt as a tourniquet and going into shock I hobbled down the isolated track fearing bleeding to death or becoming unconscious.

Hearing me scream for help, builders on a house site recognised my plight and called an ambulance. After an inhalation of an unknown pain relief, I was taken to the nearest public hospital where I was left untreated on a trolley in the foyer for three hours.

After my wife finally arrived and with the hospital's insistence that they were too busy to treat me for at least another 6 hours, she bundled me into the back seat of her car and transferred me to a private hospital emergency department (I had top private insurance) where I was immediately given a general anaesthetic and stitched and stapled by a plastic surgeon.

After 2 days in hospital and massive IV doses of penicillin, I returned home. I was, however, readmitted to emergency 24 hours later after an infection had erupted.

After several more days in hospital, the surgeon was concerned, and on Valentines day night I was placed under another general anaesthetic and the wound was re-opened to reveal a stinking, puss ridden infection known as "aeromonas".

The infection is immune to penicillin and has a mortality rate of 70% if not treated immediately.

Sections of the wound were trimmed and cocktails of drugs were administered under IV for 6 hours a day (one of the drugs used for anthrax cases.)

I remained in hospital for 3 weeks and was released. I had to take 26 tablets a day until the all clear was given.

The saving grace in terms of the wound healing process was the use of a machine known as a "Vacuum assisted closure" eliminating skin graft surgery and resulting in a better finish . A sponge is cut to the size of the wound and inserted, sealed with adhesive plastic and a tube runs to a vacuum device. It runs on a cycle of 5 minutes on and 2 minutes off 24 hours a day.

Luckily a portable version was available enabling me to carry on fairly normal duties at home.

The accident bill was $25,000.

I have recovered fully and the wound was fully closed in 66 days.

I hope you enjoyed details of this experience and enjoy the pictures.

P.S I updated my will after 10 years!
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ED: This wound is brought to you by the letter "J".

Wow, what a story. And what luck (good and bad). I would think the best thing about updating your will after a lengthy hospital stay is that you can cut out anyone that didn't visit or call.

Oh, and by the way, I'm pretty sure he meant flip-flops when he said thongs. I just want to make sure you sickos didn't think he was describing his underwear. But what the hell, visualize the story however you want.

Photos:
Fresh
Healing
Healed