Lindsey Vonn says she nearly faced amputation after Olympic crash

Lindsey Vonn said she developed compartment syndrome after her downhill crash at the Milan‑Cortina Olympics, and an on‑site fasciotomy by surgeon Tom Hackett prevented amputation. She has been released from hospital and will need additional surgeries for a complex tibia fracture, with bone healing expected to take about a year.

Lindsey Vonn crashed during the women's downhill at the Milan‑Cortina Olympics and sustained a complex tibia fracture. The injury led to compartment syndrome, a condition of dangerously increased pressure in the muscle compartment. An on‑site orthopedic surgeon, Tom Hackett, performed a fasciotomy that Vonn said prevented an amputation. She was later released from hospital and is planning further surgeries. Key details: - The crash occurred in the Olympic downhill event and resulted in a complex tibia fracture and compartment syndrome, as reported by Vonn. - Tom Hackett performed a fasciotomy on Vonn's leg that was reported to have relieved pressure and prevented amputation. - Vonn also sustained a broken right ankle and had previously torn an ACL before the Olympics, which were noted in her updates. - She has been discharged from hospital and will require multiple surgeries, with Vonn estimating about a year for the bones to heal. Summary: Vonn's team reported that timely surgical treatment prevented loss of the leg after her Olympic crash, and she has left hospital but remains scheduled for further operations. The recovery process and additional procedures will continue over the coming months, with an estimated year for bone healing.