Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn revealed she narrowly avoided a leg amputation and required a blood transfusion following a severe crash during the Winter Games. Vonn described the injury as the "most extreme and painful" she has ever experienced.
She suffered a complex tibia fracture, fractured femur head, and tibia plateau, complicated by compartment syndrome - a condition where excess blood buildup crushes muscle and nerves. Dr. Tom Hackett performed a fasciotomy, cutting open both sides of her leg to relieve pressure and save it from amputation.
During the six-hour surgery to rebuild her leg, Vonn experienced significant blood loss, leading to low hemoglobin levels and necessitating a blood transfusion. She expressed gratitude for the medical team and is now focused on recovery, anticipating at least two months on crutches.
The injury occurred during the alpine skiing women's downhill event, forcing her to be airlifted from the mountain. Despite persevering through a ruptured ACL to compete, the incident required multiple surgeries and a transfer back to the U.S.