AboutCynthia Bedell Expertise I am the Commander of the Surface Communications and Support Systems, contract management office. I am currently an active duty Colonel.
Experience I have bachelors and masters degrees in Engineering. I also hold a patent for a new way to process composite materials into complex shapes.
Expert: Cynthia Bedell Date: 7/24/2008 Subject: injured in boot camp
Question hi
my daughter is in her last week of army boot camp and has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the femoral neck. my question is if she has to have surgery is this a reason to be medically discharged? wouldn't this be a continuing thing that might be a problem for the rest of her life? if so is she eligible for an benefits from the military? thanks for your help
concerned mom
Answer Dear Amy --
Surgery in and of itself is not a reason for discharge. However if the injury or treatment for the injury and military training puts your daughter at additional risk, that would be reason for a medical discharge.
Young people these days often have porous bones due to drinking too much soda (phosphorous in the soda leaches calcium from the bones making them brittle). Routine military training then causes stress fractures in unexpected bones (hips, joint sockets, etc). Frequently sufficient rest and light exercise until the break heals, is enough to eliminate the problem permanently, especially if the young person stops drinking soft drinks and get a bit more calcium.
I would expect the doctors to take a conservative approach to this injury, and not immediately do surgery. If your daughter does not need traction to ensure the femur does not displace, it is possible she could be given medical leave and allowed to come home to heal. She would be expected to report for medical check-ups, and when healed, to return to training.
If they must surgically repair the break, then again, once your daughter is stable and able to leave the hospital, she should be able to take her convalescent leave at home.
If her injury is severe, and will not heal sufficiently to allow her to complete her military enlistment, she would get a medical separation. She would get a small separation payment, and then be eligible for medical care solely for that leg injury at the Veterans' Administration (VA) hospitals, and perhaps some job rehabilitation training at VA Centers.
Please write back if you have other questions or concerns. Good luck to your daughter.
