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I found your site and think it's rather interesting. Though these may be a little more than what you're looking for, I unfortunately have something to contribute.

In the spring of 2001 I made the decision to purchase a motorcycle. After riding all summer, I thought I was a pro.

One late night in August I was riding home on the freeway. The roads were virtually empty. Cruising along about 70 mph, the vibration of the engine, the wheels and the texture of the pavement achieved a point of resonance, causing the bike to go into the dreaded "wobble". The handlebars began shaking violently as I let off the throttle hoping to regain control. Things didn't happen exactly as I'd hoped and the bike threw me off as it went down on its left side. The motorcycle slid off into the median while I somehow rolled, tumbled and found myself sitting in the middle of what, at any other time of day, would have been oncoming traffic.

My first thought was "Get up and get off the road." I did so. My next thought was to pick up my bike and try to make it home. I only had another 20 miles to go and I would worry about the damage in the morning. As it turns out, I was in shock and had not yet realized that I'd been injured pretty badly. I obviously wasn't able to get the bike upright. Luckily, at least one other person was out that night, stopped, and phoned for an ambulance.

I managed to escape with a small scratch on my forehead requiring about 6 stitches and a severe case of road-rash. Many thanks to the cows who gave their skin for the heavy leather jacket I was wearing. It was torn to shreds, but did its job.

The worst injury I suffered was to my left hand. I was thrown off the bike as it was going down, and perhaps was still holding the handlebar when it made contact with the pavement. I broke my middle finger and ground away most of the bone that makes up the knuckle joint in my ring finger. The pictures attached are before, during and after surgery, which required multiple skin grafts and the fusing of the bones, locking it in place.

Attached is one picture of the injury just before surgery, 2 weeks after the accident. There are 3 "intraop" pictures, showing the work as the surgeons did it. Then 2 pictures showing my hand 3 weeks post-op. The last of the pictures show 8 weeks after surgery. That's pretty much what the hand looks like today, though it doesn't hurt nearly as much, the scarring isn't nearly as visible and the fingers aren't quite as stiff. And yes, though it took the shop almost 8 months to fix my bike, by then my hand was strong enough to squeeze the clutch. I was right back out there on the road, with the wind in my face, leaving my worries in the dust behind me.

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Editor's Notes:

Now we know why bikers shell out hundreds of dollars for jackets. Maybe some gloves would be in order as well. But I know, then you're completely covered up; wind whipping through nothing, not even your knuckle hairs. I can appreciate that. But after looking at these pictures, I think I'd go for gloves anyway. Might not have saved the breaking bones, but maybe some of the skin. And of course, without the helmet, you'd be dead.

I'm just amazed by the skin growth and healing in these pictures...very cool. If anyone has detail about the procedures you see here, give up the 411 on the comment board. It looks like the material in the 3 week picture is actually in the wound, guiding the skin growth. Could be my semi-active imagination.

Excellent pictures, and good story. My compliments to the chef, I mean Doctors.

Photos:
Before- fresh injury
Intra op 1- big job ahead
Intra Op 2- jigsaw
Intra Op 3- pieces
After-- 3 Weeks
After- 8 weeks
After- 8 weeks, amazing