Woman, 26, decided to have her right leg AMPUTATED after her fracture wouldn’t heal

A 26-year-old woman decided to have her right leg amputated after a fracture she suffered walking down a street wouldn’t heal.

Victoria Snell suffered the injury while strolling back from the cinema – but has since been in and out of hospital for the last six years.

She underwent a total of four operations, having several bone grafts and metal plates installed, however nothing seemed to work. 

Facing a fifth operation to have a cage fitted around her leg, Miss Snell decided enough was enough – and asked the doctors to chop her leg off.

The customer services worker revealed how her friends threw an amputation party for her, where they played ‘ping the leg on Vicky’.

Victoria Snell suffered the injury while strolling back from the cinema – but has since been in and out of hospital for the last six years (pictured after her amputation)

She underwent a total of four operations, having several bone grafts and metal plates installed, however nothing seemed to work (pictured before the operation)

She underwent a total of four operations, having several bone grafts and metal plates installed, however nothing seemed to work (pictured before the operation)

WHEN DO THE NHS CARRY OUT AMPUTATIONS? 

Around 2.6 people per 1,000 have an amputation each year in England, according to official figures.

They are often needed for patients who have had serious trauma to their limbs, such as a crush or blast wound.

However, diabetics are also at risk of needing an amputation because the condition can lead to complications such as nerve damage and poor circulation that can trigger ulcers that worsen quickly.

Other reasons that patients may need an amputation include severe infections in the limbs, gangrene, deformities or when there is limited movement or function.

Prosthetic limbs aren’t suitable for every amputee, the NHS states. They are only given to patients who are able to complete an extensive course of physio and rehab. 

Miss Snell, originally from Plymouth, Devon, but now living in Manchester, said: ‘In the end it was a horrible decision but an easy one.

‘I knew my leg wasn’t getting me anywhere and I knew with prosthetics I could have a better life than my actual leg could give me.’ 

When she fractured her leg 

Miss Snell was 20 at the time of the break, which was later found to have been a stress fracture.

She said she didn’t fall, trip or in any way suffer an impact – but her leg just snapped as she walked.

Miss Snell said: ‘I thought I had sprained my ankle, I’m a bit clumsy, I walk into stuff a lot.

‘I had been to the cinema in Plymouth and every ten steps it was getting more and more painful. Eventually I heard it snap very audibly.

‘My friend who was with me did too, she said, “what was that?” I said, “I think it was my leg”.’

Miss Snell was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where she was patched up and had her leg coated in plaster.

Facing a fifth operation to have a cage fitted around her leg, Miss Snell decided enough was enough - and asked the doctors to chop her leg off (X-ray shows the metal plates in her leg)

Facing a fifth operation to have a cage fitted around her leg, Miss Snell decided enough was enough – and asked the doctors to chop her leg off (X-ray shows the metal plates in her leg)

The customer services worker revealed how her friends threw an amputation party for her, where they played 'ping the leg on Vicky' (pictured after her amputation)

The customer services worker revealed how her friends threw an amputation party for her, where they played ‘ping the leg on Vicky’ (pictured after her amputation)

Miss Snell, from Plymouth, Devon, said: 'In the end it was a horrible decision but an easy one' (pictured wearing a brace to help speed up her healing before it was removed)

Miss Snell, from Plymouth, Devon, said: ‘In the end it was a horrible decision but an easy one’ (pictured wearing a brace to help speed up her healing before it was removed)

WHAT WAS THE TIMELINE OF HER EVENTS?

2011: Miss Snell fractured her right leg

January 2013: Miss Snell has a bone graft and metal plate installed. Doctors notice her right leg is an inch shorter than her left

June 2015: She was given a taylor spatial frame – designed to speed up the healing of fractures – but again the leg didn’t recover

October 2016: Miss Snell was given another bone graft and had more metal plates installed – but they eventually gave way on April 1 last year

June 2017: Miss Snell was back on the slab as doctors righted the last surgery, but again the leg refused to heal

December 2017: Miss Snell said she had the operation in December last year and her friends then threw an amputation party for her.

She said: ‘I was in hospital for about a week. They did a bunch of tests because your average 20-year-old doesn’t break a leg walking down the street.

‘Thankfully they all came back okay, it’s just my bones are a bit rubbish.’

Her first operation 

It was another two years before she would be on the operating table, in January 2013.

First, she had a bone graft and a metal plate installed but the pain continued.

Her doctors then checked her over and realised her right leg was about an inch shorter than the other.

In June 2015, Miss Snell was given a taylor spatial frame – designed to speed up the healing of fractures – but again the leg didn’t recover.

She added: ‘I kind of got used to going there all the time.

‘By the time we got to the third surgery I knew what to expect, I knew I had to take time off work, I knew what was happening.

She said she didn’t fall, trip or in any way suffer an impact - but her leg just snapped as she walked (pictured in hospital)

She said she didn’t fall, trip or in any way suffer an impact – but her leg just snapped as she walked (pictured in hospital)

Miss Snell said: 'I thought I had sprained my ankle, I’m a bit clumsy, I walk into stuff a lot' (pictured, her right leg being an inch shorter than the other)

Miss Snell said: ‘I thought I had sprained my ankle, I’m a bit clumsy, I walk into stuff a lot’ (pictured, her right leg being an inch shorter than the other)

Miss Snell was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where she was patched up and had her leg coated in plaster (pictured, the scars on her legs after numerous operations)

Miss Snell was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where she was patched up and had her leg coated in plaster (pictured, the scars on her legs after numerous operations)

It was another two years before she would be on the operating table, in January 2013. First, she had a bone graft and a metal plate installed but the pain continued (her amputated leg)

It was another two years before she would be on the operating table, in January 2013. First, she had a bone graft and a metal plate installed but the pain continued (her amputated leg)

Her doctors then checked her over and realised her right leg was about an inch shorter than the other (pictured after her operation)

Her doctors then checked her over and realised her right leg was about an inch shorter than the other (pictured after her operation)

In June 2015, Miss Snell was given a taylor spatial frame (pictured) - designed to speed up the healing of fractures - but again the leg didn't recover 

In June 2015, Miss Snell was given a taylor spatial frame (pictured) – designed to speed up the healing of fractures – but again the leg didn’t recover 

‘I accepted it was something I was going to have to go through for a couple of years.’

She was given another bone graft the next October and had more metal plates installed – but they eventually gave way on April 1 last year.

Then, on June 22, Miss Snell was back on the slab as doctors righted the last surgery, but again the leg refused to heal.

‘Netflix was my hobby’ 

She continued: ‘I don’t think I lived like your average 20-something.

‘I didn’t go out and when people asked me what I did for a hobby I asked if Netflix counted as a hobby – I think it kinda does.

‘I hadn’t been able to walk without pain for years, for the last three years I couldn’t walk unsupported.’

Miss Snell was 20 at the time of the break, which was later found to have been a stress fracture (pictured learning to walk with her prosthetic leg)

Miss Snell was 20 at the time of the break, which was later found to have been a stress fracture (pictured learning to walk with her prosthetic leg)

She was given another bone graft the next October and had more metal plates installed - but they eventually gave way on April 1 last year (pictured with a leg cake, made by friend Derek Anderson at a 'let's get Vicky legless' amputation party)

She was given another bone graft the next October and had more metal plates installed – but they eventually gave way on April 1 last year (pictured with a leg cake, made by friend Derek Anderson at a ‘let’s get Vicky legless’ amputation party)

Then, on June 22, Miss Snell was back on the slab as doctors righted the last surgery, but again the leg refused to heal (pictured learning to walk again with her prosthetic leg)

Then, on June 22, Miss Snell was back on the slab as doctors righted the last surgery, but again the leg refused to heal (pictured learning to walk again with her prosthetic leg)

Miss Snell said she had the operation in December last year and her friends then threw an amputation party for her (pictured with the plaster cover of her amputated leg)

Miss Snell said she had the operation in December last year and her friends then threw an amputation party for her (pictured with the plaster cover of her amputated leg)

Facing a fifth operation, to have another leg cage fitted, Miss Snell decided enough was enough and the leg had to go.

She added: ‘I’ve had my prosthetic on for a couple of months and I’m getting around. I haven’t used my wheel chair in like seven months.

‘It’s liberating, empowering, it’s giving me my life back. I was back at work after eight weeks.’ 

Amputation party 

Miss Snell said she had the operation in December last year and her friends then threw an amputation party for her.

She added: ‘It’s official title was “let’s get Vicky legless”.

‘It was a really good night, it was just a house party with a leg cake really. We had lots of drink and there was lots of food. We played pin the leg on Vicky.’ 

She added: 'I’ve had my prosthetic on for a couple of months and I’m getting around. I haven’t used my wheel chair in like seven months' (pictured learning to walk again)

She added: ‘I’ve had my prosthetic on for a couple of months and I’m getting around. I haven’t used my wheel chair in like seven months’ (pictured learning to walk again)

Miss Snell added: 'It’s liberating, empowering, it’s giving me my life back. I was back at work after eight weeks' (pictured after her amputation)

Miss Snell added: ‘It’s liberating, empowering, it’s giving me my life back. I was back at work after eight weeks’ (pictured after her amputation)



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