Teen returns to Lake hospital that saved his thumb

Wisconsin boy, family stop to say thank you

Tyler Delany is shown during one of his 10 two-hour treatments in the hyperbaric treatment following surgery to reattach his nearly amputated thumb after a on-water accident last summer at the Lake.
Tyler Delany is shown during one of his 10 two-hour treatments in the hyperbaric treatment following surgery to reattach his nearly amputated thumb after a on-water accident last summer at the Lake.

Nurses and staff at Lake Regional Health System's Wound Healing Center in Osage Beach smiled and gave words of encouragement as 13-year-old Wisconsin resident Tyler Delaney wiggled his thumb.

It's a normal movement most people take for granted. Tyler did too until an accident involving a rope and jet ski nearly amputated his thumb during his family's vacation to Lake of the Ozarks last summer.

Through surgery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the Wound Healing Center and a physician near Tyler's hometown, the young teen kept his thumb and regained its complete use.

It only felt right for the Delaneys to return to Lake Regional Hospital during this year's vacation and thank its staff for their efforts and attention to Tyler's medical care and treatment.

"It is important because we wanted to come back and say thank you," Tyler said, after his June 26 visit with hospital staff.

"Everyone was so nice, and it made everything so much more comfortable for Tyler and us," Tyler's father, Shawn, added. "Nicky (hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber technician Nichole Richey) and the whole staff came every morning and afternoon. People were coming in and checking on him and wanted to make sure he was OK. It made us want to come back and thank everyone and see everyone. I think we will for years to come, come back and see everybody."

Expedient medical care

When Shawn pulled up by the jet ski where Tyler sat with his relative and holding his hand above his head, the father's heart dropped.

Before the incident happened, the Delaneys were playing around on jet skis and wakeboarding with relatives during the family's first full day of their vacation. While his brother called it quits for the day, Tyler decided to continue the fun, Shawn recalled.

"As he was picking up the rope, the engine was still running. The rope got caught in the prop and got wrapped around his thumb, dislocated it and almost pulled it off," he said.

"When it immediately happened, I thought I lost my thumb," Tyler said. "As soon as I was told I had my thumb, I wasn't as worried, but still really worried I could lose it. I was in pain until we got here (at the hospital). I was expecting it to get numb eventually, but it didn't happen until we got here."

However, the family relaxed as the ER staff took immediate action to save Tyler's thumb.

Dr. Scott Hofer said his first step was determining if the thumb was salvageable.

"An injury like his often shreds/twists/stretches the blood vessels until they tear and there may not be much to repair," Hofer said. "Fortunately one of his two arteries was spared and after realigning and pinning the digit (to stabilize the fracture through the growth plate), the digit looked reasonably well perfused."

Shawn was impressed with how quickly the ER staff and Hofer took care and conducted the necessary surgery to save his son's thumb.

"(The accident) happened about 7-7:30 p.m. With the half-hour drive and all the surgery, Tyler's thumb was reattached and we were out by midnight," he said. "It was extremely fast and everybody was absolutely great. The attentiveness of everyone in the ER and with his age, they kept everything covered and away from him so he didn't have to look at it."

Therapy for Tyler's thumb

After Tyler was discharged, the Lake Regional Hospital staff kept a close eye on Tyler's thumb. Worried the tip might die, Hofer recommended Tyler receive hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Since opening in April 2009, Lake Regional Wound Healing Center has treated more than 2,000 wounds, many using the hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Laurie Lowther, the center's program director, said the hyperbaric oxygen treatment is used for a variety of ailments from diabetic wounds, bone and skin infections and acute traumatic arterial insufficiency (Tyler's case). Lowther said in cases like Tyler's, the blood vessels don't necessarily get sewn back together and need oxygen to heal.

"Normally when blood is carrying oxygen, it is carried on the red blood cells. But if your arteries are not connected, they can't carry blood; the bridge is down," she said. "While in the (hyperbaric) chamber, the (person's) plasma is oxygenating that skin and it is giving it a better chance of survival."

Receiving 10 two-hour treatments at the Wound Healing Center during the Delaney's vacation, Tyler's thumb made major improvements toward healing and regained movement. Tyler was the youngest person to receive such treatments. He was able to watch television, movies and also visit and receive attentive care from his technician, Richey, every day he received the treatment.

"He did very well with treatments for his age and was very brave and trusting for his age," Richey said.

Thankful for continued care

After the family returned home to Wisconsin, Lake Regional made sure Tyler would be referred and have follow-up medical care in Wisconsin. Lowther said it was no easy feat finding a doctor to take on Tyler's care.

Finally, the Hand Center-Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa, agreed to provide follow-up care.

Shawn said Tyler went once a week for a couple months to the Wisconsin-based medical facility, which was only a half-hour from their home.

Now, Tyler has full use of his thumb and is able to pursue his passion for music, continuing to develop his drumming skills. For the Delaneys, Lake Regional's doctors, nurses, technicians and staff ensured Tyler's thumb stayed in tact and received a successful rehabilitation.

For Lake Regional staff, Tyler's maturity, courage and mindfulness of the care he received made the medical procedures successful and one they will remember.

"With the nature of our patients, we often have people take 12 weeks or a year of treatments. They get to know us, bring us food and become like family to us," Lowther said.

"With Tyler, many of the nurses here followed up with him after he left to see how he was doing. ... We don't get a lot of children here and we all have children of our own. It makes Tyler a special patient."