A REMARKABLE CURE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5156, 25 July 1927, Page 3

A REMARKABLE CURE.

UNABLE TO WALK SINCE BIRTH.

SUCCESS AFTER OPERATION.

A remarkable feat was performed recently by a surgeon at the Royal North Shore Hospital in fully restoring the use of the legs of a Sydney boy, who was so completely paralysed that he had never been able to walk since hisi birth, 12 years earlier.

The youth, Tommy S—, of Coogee, was brought to the hospital suffering with a minor illness, and was treated by a member of the medical staff.

The surgeon found that both legs were twisted and deformed, and completely paralysed from the hips. He diagnosed the trouble as spastic paralysis, which is caused by a pressure on a portion of the skull. This pressure prevents the lower limbs from operating. After treating Tommy for two months the surgeon, in order to restore the use of his legSi decided to perform an intricate, operation, known as “sympathetic ramisection,” which was discovered by the late Professor Hunter.

Portion of the sympathetic nerve, which governs the use of the legs, is situated in the lower portion of the back, and can be successfully operated on under normal conditions without endangering the life of the* patient. However, in this particular case, owing to Tommy’s weak condition, great care had to be taken during and after the operation. TEACHING HIM TO WALK. Tommy under this careful treatment made good progress, and shortly after the operation the boy’s health had sufficiently improved to allow the surgeon to continue his remedies. When the plaster splints' were removed Tommy’s legs, were found to be completely straightened, but, never having known how to walk, he was as helpless as before. With the aid of many novel devices the surgeon set out to teach him how to use his legs. A sheet of glass was placed under him, and his legs were stretched apart. He wa& instructed to “just think a moment and then bring your legs together.” Tommy concentrated his attention on his legs, and much to his surprise his knees slid together along the glass. So great was the sensation in having moved his legs for .the first time in his life that Tommy first laughed, and then commenced to cry. After massage a.nd re-education in leg movement Tommy was daily placed in a specially constructed walking machine made out of gas pipes. Tommy was able to push the machine with his shoulders ijlong verandahs of the hospital, and ds the machine travelled along the boards he was obliged to walk in order to keep up with it. The pipes which surrounded him prevented him from falling. CHASING OTHER CHILDREN. After two months, in which he daily exercised his legs in this machine, he was able to walk as far as stepping out was concerned, but he could not maintain his balance. The surgeon then made him stand daily and catch and return a tennis ball. Tommy made rapid improvement, and one day the surgeon was surprised to find Tommy chasing the other convalescent children round the lawns..

Tommy left the hospital shortly, afterwards, and now plays cricket, tennis, and other sports.