PAX COMPLAINTS OF MINOR DISCOMFORT AND INJURED CABIN ATTENDANT DUE TO AN ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURB ON THE CLB OUT; WHILE DEVIATING AROUND WX IN A B737-200 FROM ATL.

Narrative

CLBING THROUGH 24000 FT; ATL TO IAH. CTR ADVISED DEVS AROUND WX WAS APPROVED. ON MY RADAR; ON 20 NM SCOPE; ONLY VERY LIGHT RAIN WAS SHOWING IN 3 SPOTS; NO LARGER THAN A FINGER PRINT ON THE SCREEN. MY FO TURNED R TO AVOID; (GOING BTWN TWO OF THE RETURNS). (NO WAY WAS THE RADAR ATTENUATING BECAUSE THERE WERE NO TSTMS OR CHOP.) THE RADAR SCREEN WAS BLACK EXCEPT FOR THE 3 SMALL GREEN AREAS DESCRIBED (ONE OF THE SPOTS HAD A HINT OF YELLOW BUT THAT ONE WAS ON THE FAR L; TOTALLY AVOIDED.) NONE OF THE RETURNS WAS LARGER THAN 1-3 NM WIDE. ABEAM THE RAIN SHOWER; 3 JOLTS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB OCCURRED WITH A TOTAL DURATION OF NO MORE THAN 7-10 SECONDS. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS STILL ON SO NO PAX WERE UP; BUT A FLT ATTENDANT AFT WAS LIFTED OFF THE FLOOR AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE GALLEY DOOR; APPARENTLY BREAKING HIS ANKLE. UPON BEING TOLD OF THIS AND OF 2 PAX WITH MILD; UNSPECIFIC COMPLAINTS OF 'PULLED MUSCLE' OR 'ACHING SHOULDER;' I DID A 'MEDLINK' HOOKUP VIA COMMERCIAL RADIO AND DISPATCH IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCS. MEDLINK ADVISED CONTINUATION TO HOUSTON OK WITH APPLICATION OF ICE TO INJURED AREAS. MEDICAL EMER WAS DECLARED WITH ZHU (TO PREVENT ARR DELAYS). PARAMEDICS MET FLT AT IAH GATE. PAX DECLINED TREATMENT; BUT FLT ATTENDANT WAS TAKEN VIA AMBULANCE FOR XRAYS. AS FAR AS I KNOW; NO FARS WERE BROKEN. ACFT WAS INSPECTED FOR TURB DAMAGE (NONE FOUND). CHIEF PLT ADVISED NASA RPT. CREW CONTINUED DUTY DAY.