From what I've heard, significantly worse. I'm not a doctor at all, mind, but I do pay attention to this sort of thing.
Head of the medical center gave a few details I'd not heard. Leg fractures are comminuted...I hadda look it up. It means broken or splintered in more than one place. A "shattered" ankle is a mess to fix, because of all the small bones, and because it's weight-bearing. AND then the vascular issues.
Smith's problem was an infection related to the damage, that itself nearly killed him...I think that's not overstating it. Here, I *think* a major concern will be actual necrosis due to blood flow issues, as well as infection. And...ohhh damn...I just realized, he's wheelchair-bound for at least 6 months, and probably longer because it's very likely that there will have to be several procedures to fully, properly set the breaks after the swelling goes down, then clean up the mess later...and that's not counting the ankle. Both bones in the one leg, that's a full leg cast. AND the ankle cast on the other leg. I could be wrong but I can't see crutches. The reason this concerns me is lack of activity, ON TOP OF the vascular damage.
He is apparently now awake and responsive.