FRACTURED NECK

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1932, Page 2

FRACTURED NECK

INJURY DISCOVERED. AFTER SEVEN WEEKS. AUCKLAND, December 20. The ease oil a man who walked about for seven weeks with a broken neck has been revealed by the admittance to the Auckland Hospital of Samuel ; Fla veil of Northeote, who now lies strapped to a steel frame. Doctors say he practically "walked with death” only escaping by “a fraction of a millimetre.” Flavell, who is 69 years of I age, was injured while riding in the ! front seat of a motor-lorry on NovemI her Ist. Running over a rut in the j road, the vehicle jolted badly and he j was thrown against the dashboard. I "It was only a paltry jolt to cause such a lot of damage, and I did not attach much importance to my injury, which .1 thought was merely a sore neck,” he said. Although he suffered some pain, Flavell did not think it j necessary to seek medical advice, and I he. continued to walk about as though nothing had happened. Four days afterwards ho attended the races at Fllerslie. I was then that he noticed that his neck was so stiff that he could not look up to read the totalisator figures. He then decided to consult a doctor. The cause of the trouble was uot diagnosed and Flavell continued to walk about in ignorance that a minor jolt might kill him. Ho suffered acute agony, and four days ago he was ordered by a doctor to have an X-ray photograph taken at the Auckland Hospital. It was then revealed that he had received a fractured dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. The spinal cord was missed by a mere hair-breath and the doctors said he had taken a . grave risk in walking round in his | condition. , This is the third case of a fractured

neck dealt with in Auckland during the past year. In two cases a complete recovery was effected, but in one case death ensued after the patient haa been lying strapped to his bed for _six months. In Flavell’s case there is every expectation of a complete'.. recovery.