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Lian (Harvard GSD M.Arch.I)

I graduated in 2013, but still blog here once in a while.

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    things of unusual beauty (x rays of my broken bones)

    By Lian Chikako Chang
    Jun 16, '11 9:45 PM EST

    Hello Archinect!

    So, I had a bicycle accident almost three weeks ago now, in which I broke three bones and dislocated my tibia. Yesterday I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and got copies of my x-rays and the radiologist's descriptions of them.

    Here is a sampling of both. The images are more obviously compelling than the text, but it's the text that the physicians work from, more the images. All the translations that occur from specialist to specialist, from one mode of representation to another...is it a familiar scenario?

    Thanks for looking--
    Lian

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    NAME: CHANG, LIAN Tibia and Fibula 2 Views
    28-May-2011 1:25 PM MGH - Main Campus
    SEX: F DOB: [REDACTED]
    Signs and Symptoms: HX OF TRAUMA, PLS ASSESS FOR FX, DISLOCATION

    COMPARISON: None

    FINDINGS: There is a complete comminuted fracture of the distal fibula, with anterior angulation of the distal fracture fragment and approximately 40 degrees. There is also a fracture at the lateroposterior malleolus, with displacement of the fragment medially. There is a non-displaced medial distal tibial fracture. There is tibiotalar dislocation, with anterior dislocation of the distal tibia.

    *

    28-May-2011 3:20 PM
    Signs and Symptoms: s/p reduction attempt

    FINDINGS: Right ankle: Since the prior study, the right ankle is splinted, which obscures underlying fine bony detail. Distal fibula and distal tibia fractures are redemonstrated and are grossly unchanged. Posterior dislocation of the talus with respect to the tibia is unchanged.

    Right foot: The right foot is splinted, which obscures underlying fine bony detail. Distal fibula and distal tibia fractures are redemonstrated and are grossly unchanged. Posterior dislocation of the talus with respect to the tibia is unchanged.

    *

    28-May-2011 3:45 PM
    Signs and Symptoms: PREOP, ASSESS FOR PNA/INFILTRATE
    History: Frontal and lateral views of the chest.

    FINDINGS: Lines/tubes: None.

    Lungs: The lungs are well inflated and clear. There is no evidence of pneumonia or pulmonary edema.

    Pleura: There is no pleural effusion or pneumothorax.

    Heart and mediastinum: The heart and the mediastinum are normal.

    Bones: The thoracic skeleton is unremarkable.

    *

    28-May-2011 4:00 PM
    Signs and Symptoms: R GREAT TOE PAIN

    FINDINGS: Right ankle: Since the prior study, the right ankle is splinted, which obscures underlying fine bony detail. Distal fibula and distal tibia fractures are redemonstrated and are grossly unchanged. Posterior dislocation of the talus with respect to the tibia is unchanged.

    Right foot: The right foot is splinted, which obscures underlying fine bony detail. Distal fibula and distal tibia fractures are redemonstrated and are grossly unchanged. Posterior dislocation of the talus with respect to the tibia is unchanged.

    *

    28-May-2011 5:20 PM
    Signs and Symptoms: POST REDUCTION ASSESS FOR FX F/U
    FINDINGS: There is splint material, which partially obscures underlying structures. There has been interval partial reduction of the previously seen tibiotalar dislocation. The right tibia remains. The distal right fibula fracture is incompletely evaluated, and appears approximately unchanged. The distal right tibia fracture appears unchanged.

    *

    28-May-2011 7:45 PM
    Signs and Symptoms: FX ASSESS FOR FX F/U

    FINDINGS: Since the prior study there is improvement in alignment of the previously demonstrated fracture-dislocation involving the right ankle.

    IMPRESSION: Since the previous study there has been interval improvement in alignment. Again noted are fractures of the distal fibula and medial malleolus.

    *

    29-May-2011 2:40 PM
    Signs and Symptoms: RIGHT ANKLE FX ORIG UNDER C-ARM GUIDANCE ASSESS FOR ALIGNMENT
    FINDINGS: Intraoperative images demonstrate a side plate and multiple screw fixation of a distal fibular fracture with the most distal of the screws transfixing the syndesmosis as well. In addition, medial and posterior fixation plates have been positioned at the level of a distal tibial fracture. The ankle mortise appears grossly well aligned.



     
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About this Blog

This blog was most active from 2009-2013. Writing about my experiences and life at Harvard GSD started out as a way for me to process my experiences as an M.Arch.I student, and evolved into a record of the intellectual and cultural life of the Cambridge architecture (and to a lesser extent, design/technology) community, through live-blogs. These days, I work as a data storyteller (and blogger at Littldata.com) in San Francisco, and still post here once in a while.

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