FRACTURED NECK

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1932, Page 8

FRACTURED NECK

MAN MAKES RECOVERY 11 WEEKS IN HOSPITAL After spending over eleven weeks in the Auckland Hospital, Mr. Thomas Joseph Grate; aged 19, -or 'Old Mill Road, Grey-Lynn, is now at his home, rapidly approaching full and complete recovery from a broken neck.-Mr.-Grace broke his neck I while practising ■ acrobatics at : the house ,of .a- friend on July 24, and -for four days afterward eoninued to.go to his work in the cits. However, he .was suffering from parrial paralysis of’the left side and was finally persuaded to visit the hospital, where an X-ray examination was made.

For several ; weeks Mr. Grace was in bed at the hospital, strapped on a frame and with a leather ; collar t** keep his head in one-position. Uare had to be taken to prevent any movement which might have stopped the fractured vertebrae of the spinal column from knitting.

The next stage in the treatment was the fitting of a surgical appliance known as a spinal jacket. For this, a cast of the patient’s back had to be made, and then a perfectly-fitting jacket eonstiucted of steel and leather. This jacket has to be worn night and day, and has the effect of keeping the head in one position. Mr Grace wa s discharged from hospital, on October 14 and is now- able to walk round in almost normal fashion. > He is attending the hospital for treatment as an-.out-patient and will have- to continue wearing the , spinal, jacket for some time. However, the doctors in. charge o£„the case, are. com fklemt that he will make a complete recovery . 1