From cleaning leaves from the gutters to putting up Christmas lights, ladders serve a very useful purpose. But when proper care isn’t taken, they can also pose a serious risk. In fact, more than 100 people are killed and thousands more are hurt in ladder accidents.
University Orthopedics trauma surgeon, Dr. Roman Hayda, and one of his patients recently spoke to Channel 10’s Barbara Morse about ladder dangers.
Nancy Krause of Warwick climbed a ladder last month in an attempt to take care of a yellowjacket problem. While climbing down, she missed the bottom two steps of the ladder. The result – a severe tibial plateau fracture. Dr. Hayda repaired her leg using a plate and screws. While on the mend, Nancy has another one or two months to go before she can even begin putting weight on her leg, and then will have many more months of physical therapy. She told Morse she has a newfound respect for ladders and the dangers they pose.