Sat Examinations In Plaster Cast

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 2

Sat Examinations In Plaster Cast

A Christchurch student, who recently sat six university papers for honours in mathematics while lying in a plaster cast with steel rods clamped to her backbone, is home for Christmas.

Miss Natalia Zotov had an intricate operation in Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, in April to correct a severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and expects to be fully recovered in six months.

The operation, which has freed her from intense pain, straightened her back and levelled her shoulders, was described by Miss Zotov yesterday as “quite wonderful.” “Although I feel so much fitter, I am still recovering my strength after being in bed for so long,” she said. “But it is such a thrill to be home for Christmas.” Miss Zotov, who is 23, de-

veloped a scoliosis at the age of 15. This condition was once thought to be virtually untreatable until Dr. P. Harrington, of Texas, devised a new technique to straighten the spine with surgery. Hope For Others The new operation brings hope for other young New Zealanders with scoliosis, which throws their shoulders out of alignment and causes one hip to be abnormally prominent This leads to interference with the function of the heart and lungs. Already a number have had successful operations at Middlemore Hospital, where the operation was performed for the first time early this year. It requires bone grafts. In addition stainless steel rods are attached to the side of the affected vertebrae to keep them in position. Skilled Technique It takes skilled technique, special holders and tools to attach the rods by hooks in an operation that usually lasts about three hours. The rods are of various lengths, depending on the extent of the curvature.

Miss Zotov, whose condition was becoming a serious deformity. had 10 bone grafts between 11 vertebrae. She now stands an inch and a half taller. After her operation, she spent six months In plaster to allow the bone grafts to consolidate. Then came an exploratory operation to check

the solidity of the grafts as many cracks would not be shown on an X-ray. Special Glasses When she sat her examinations, Miss Zotov had to wear prismatic glasses to deflect her vision through 42 degrees on to a reading board in front of her as she lay flat on her back. The only concession made to her was a little extra time to do the six papers. Next year, when she writes her thesis, she will be able to sit naturally at her desk.