Back in the saddle: Helping a teen return to the life she loves

When 14-year-old Ryleigh was seriously injured in an ATV accident on her family’s farm, the course of her life changed in an instant.

The crash caused a severe open fracture of her tibia and fibula with extensive soft tissue damage. After receiving emergency treatment and surgery in Wichita, Ryleigh was transferred to Children’s Mercy for the higher level of care her injury required. 

At Children’s Mercy, orthopedic surgeon Ryan Koehler, MD, and a multidisciplinary team took over her care. Despite efforts to preserve her leg, the severity of the injury and concerns for infection ultimately led to a below-knee amputation. 

For Ryleigh, treatment extended well beyond the operating room. Rehabilitation specialists, prosthetics experts, nurses and other members of her care team supported her as she adjusted physically and emotionally to life with a prosthetic leg. 

Just three months after leaving the hospital, Ryleigh reached an important goal: getting back on a horse. 

Today, at 17, she is once again participating in the activities that matter most to her, including volleyball and rodeo. 

“Ryleigh is an absolutely incredible young lady who has overcome a devastating injury to get back to all her activities,” Dr. Koehler said. “She has been inspirational to work with, and I’ve been most impressed with how she has approached each challenge with a positive attitude.” 

Ryleigh’s recovery highlights the value of coordinated, multidisciplinary pediatric care following a complex traumatic injury. For children and adolescents facing serious orthopedic injuries, the goal is not only treating the injury, but helping each patient regain function, independence and the ability to return to the activities that are important to them.