Elaine Haller’s “most horrible year” began on Memorial Day weekend in 2023.
“We took flowers to the cemetery, then stopped to get something to eat on the way home,” the 78-year-old Shippensburg woman remembers.
But what started as a lovely family outing became a nightmare when Elaine tripped and fell leaving the restaurant. The fall shattered her right elbow and hip.
An Injury Hampers an Active Lifestyle
After the accident, Elaine underwent a partial hip replacement. To fix the elbow, the bones had to be realigned and secured with screws. Her hip healed well in the following months, but the elbow was a different story.
“Things were moving along well at first, and I was going to outpatient physical therapy,” she says. “But suddenly, something was not working right.” Elaine’s progress slowed, and she began feeling new pain in her elbow.
By this time, the retired elementary school teacher and librarian felt frustrated and ready to return to her many activities.
“I own my own home, love to knit, and have a beautiful garden that I enjoy working in,” she says. “I’m probably self-sufficient to a fault, and I wanted to push ahead.”
Still, Elaine knew something wasn’t right. After seeking further medical care, she was referred to Matthew Garner, MD, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at UPMC Orthopaedic Care.
Diagnosing the Problem
Dr. Garner leads the fracture care program at UPMC Orthopaedic Care in central Pennsylvania.
The program offers services for people of all ages who’ve experienced broken bones. The medical team diagnoses and treats traumatic injuries from simple breaks to complex fractures and related complications.
Seeing Dr. Garner put Elaine’s mind at ease and made her hopeful for a good recovery.
“He sat down with my daughter and me, showed us x-rays, and talked about what we were seeing — the whole 9 yards,” she says. “He explained the different options for treatment and had a wonderful bedside manner.”
Dr. Garner explained that an infection in Elaine’s elbow was causing her pain and hindering the healing process. It had also caused much of the bone to dissolve. After discussing her life goals and activities, he recommended elbow fusion surgery as the next step .
Elbow fusion surgery, which permanently joints the elbow bones, is uncommon. But in Elaine’s situation, it was the best option for her to move forward without the limits imposed by other procedures.
“So, in September 2023, he took out all the old metal and gave me antibiotics to fight the infection,” she says.
Complications Occur
The plan was to get rid of the infection and perform the elbow fusion surgery later. But the oral antibiotics Elaine was taking made her feel sick to her stomach, and she had trouble keeping them down.
“I ended up passing out because I wasn’t eating enough,” she says. “I was getting ready to go to bed, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor.”
As a result, Elaine ended up back in the hospital with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line to deliver antibiotics intravenously. When the infection was under control, Dr. Garner performed the elbow fusion surgery in October 2023.
By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, Elaine was back home with a houseful that included her two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, ages 1 to 7. “Everything was hectic,” she says, “One thing led to another and I fell again.”
This time, Elaine broke her right ulna, the long forearm bone opposite to the thumb. That injury resulted in Dr. Garner performing yet another surgery to secure the bone with screws.
Elaine’s keen sense of humor kept her going through all the injuries. “My daughter joked about how we then got through Christmas and New Year’s without me breaking anything,” she says. “You have to laugh about these things.”
Healing from Multiple Surgeries
Elaine’s healing process continued under Dr. Garner’s care and physical therapy at home. Antibiotics delivered through the PICC line kept infections at bay. In May 2024, she had a procedure to take the screws out of her ulna. Now, she has a sling on her right arm to hold it steady.
“I’ve learned to eat and do other things with my left hand, and I’ve adapted well,” she notes. “I’m trying not to do anything with my right hand; if I took it out of the sling, I’d be tempted to use it.”
Eventually, Elaine will safely use her right arm again but won’t have the same range of motion she had before.
“Being fused, it won’t be like a normal arm,” Elaine explains. “There are some movements I won’t be able to make, but I’ve accepted that this is the way it’s going to be.”
Elaine has nothing but praise for Dr. Garner: “It’s like talking to a member of your family; I just love him. He’s very dedicated and willing to ask for input from other orthopaedic surgeons.”
The rest of the team at UPMC Orthopaedic Care has also earned her trust. “They are always checking on me, making sure everything is OK,” she notes. “I can call them anytime I have a problem, and they always get me into the office quickly if need be.”
The Future Looks Bright
These days, Elaine is looking forward to reclaiming her life — volunteering at the library, the local historical society, and Meals on Wheels. Getting back in the driver’s seat of her car is another major goal.
“I can’t drive right now, and it’s driving me crazy that I have to ask people to take me places,” she remarks.
Also high on the priority list is enjoying her brood of great-grandchildren. “I absolutely adore and love spending time with them,” she says. “We have so much fun together.”
Elaine’s upbeat attitude — combined with the skill of her medical team — has seen her through this challenging year.
“This too shall pass, and it’s going to be OK,” she says. “Being positive is the only way to be.”