Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn is opening up about the frightening extent of her latest injury, revealing just how close she came to losing her leg after a devastating crash.
In an emotional Instagram update shared Monday, Feb. 23, Vonn said she had finally been released from the hospital after what she described as the “most extreme and painful and challenging injury” of her life.
Vonn Details How She is Doing
The skiing legend didn’t sugarcoat the reality of her condition, explaining that her tibia shattered while she also fractured her fibular head and tibial plateau in the accident.
According to Vonn, the damage was so severe that doctors were immediately concerned about compartment syndrome, a dangerous condition in which swelling cuts off blood supply and threatens permanent muscle and nerve damage. If untreated, it can lead to amputation.
That’s when orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Hackett performed an emergency fasciotomy, cutting open both sides of her leg to relieve the pressure and restore circulation.
Vonn credited the procedure with saving her limb, saying bluntly, “He saved my leg.”
The operation to repair the fractures lasted about six hours.
But even after surgery, the recovery process has been anything but easy. Vonn revealed she lost significant blood and required a transfusion, while severe pain kept her hospitalized longer than expected.
As if that weren’t enough, she also broke her right ankle in the crash.
For now, Vonn is using a wheelchair and says she is “very much immobile.”
She expects to be on crutches for at least two months before she can begin walking normally again, with doctors estimating it could take roughly a year for the bones to fully heal.
Vonn Says There Could Be More Surgeries
She also anticipates additional surgery down the line to address her ACL and possibly remove hardware placed in her leg.
Despite the ordeal, Vonn’s mindset remains focused and determined.
She said she has “no regrets” about competing, adding that she would rather risk everything than wonder what might have been.
Vonn has been extremely open with her recovery and has been giving fans updates along the way.
Fans and fellow athletes quickly flooded her comments with messages of support, praising her honesty and resilience after another brutal setback in a career already marked by serious injuries.
For Vonn, recovery will be long and uncertain.
But the Olympic icon has built a reputation on perseverance, and she made it clear she’s ready to fight through this latest challenge—one careful step at a time.
