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.

As demand for pediatric sports medicine services has grown, the location has expanded both its team and clinical offerings. The center now includes Sports Medicine, Sports Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Surgery, Cardiology, Developmental and Behavioral Health, Nutrition, Psychology and other specialty services, providing coordinated care for patients with a wide range of musculoskeletal, sports-related and performance concerns. 

The Village West team emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, allowing patients and families to access comprehensive evaluation and treatment plans in one location. This integrated approach helps ensure seamless communication among providers and supports efficient, patient-centered care throughout the recovery process.

Services available at Village West include:

• Adaptive Sports Medicine
• Cardiology
• Developmental and Behavioral Health
• Movement Disorder Clinic
• Nutrition
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Physical Therapy
• Sports Performance Training
• Walk-in Imaging

The center has also expanded capacity over time, including the addition of new clinics and services to meet increasing patient needs. Growth has included expansion of the Physical Therapy team and enhanced access to psychology support and advanced practice orthopedic care.

Patient and family feedback highlights the center’s commitment to clear communication, compassionate care and thorough evaluation. Families frequently praise the team’s ability to explain diagnoses and treatment plans in an understandable way while helping children and adolescents feel engaged in their own care. 

In addition to caring for community athletes, the Sports Medicine Center at Village West has provided support for elite-level athletes and teams, further demonstrating the breadth of expertise available within the program.