LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The former 'The Big Bang Theory' star Kaley Cuoco has spoken up about the "badass" scars she received following a near-fatal equestrian accident more than ten years ago. Cuoco spoke about the horrific damage she had suffered after falling from her horse and the possibility that surgeons could have to amputate her leg.
The incident occurred in September 2010 while Cuoco was riding at a ranch in Los Angeles. Cuoco is an avid horse jumper and competitor. She fell off because her horse became spooked. Later, the horse tried to jump over her but instead landed on her left leg. The actress suffered serious injuries and was taken directly to the hospital. “It was a bad accident, it was a very bad accident,” she told co-hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes during her interview on Apple's SmartLess podcast.
'It took me like five or 10 seconds to actually realize it wasn't just 400 leaves'
While recalling the incident, Cuoco said, "I remember clear as day, because it takes a second when something is that bad. I was like, 'Did I just fall on a whole thing of leaves?' Because I heard all the cracking... It took me like five or 10 seconds to actually realize it wasn't just 400 leaves, it was my bones." Apparently, her tibia and fibula suffered a compound fracture, resulting in the bones piercing through the skin of her lower leg.
'It just was a horrible, horrible, horrible break'
Before describing the severity of the break, Cuoco mentioned undergoing surgery and the nerve-wracking moment before anesthesia when she had to sign a release allowing doctors to amputate her leg if necessary. “It just was a horrible, horrible, horrible break."
Notably, her leg was saved during the surgery, even though doctors initially believed she would require months of recovery before being able to walk again. She was given a walking boot and was able to leave the hospital after a two-week stay. She was indeed removed from two episodes of 'The Big Bang Theory' due to the accident.
Cuoco expressed her gratitude for the miraculous outcome of her surgery and recovery, “It was miraculous, I’ve got some good scars. It makes you feel like a badass.” Despite the ordeal, Cuoco has retained her passion for horseback riding and even introduced her two-month-old daughter Matilda to one of her many horses in April.
