Amputation At Man’s Waist

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 7

Amputation At Man’s Waist

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) EAST LONDON (South Africa). December 28. A young railway worker who was crushed between the buffers of a locomotive and a railroad truck on November 9 has had his body successfully amputated from the waist down, a spokesman for Frere Hospital said yesterday.

Doctors regarded the recovery of Christoffel Dirk Strydom. aged 21, as “amazing,” the spokesman said. Mr Strydom had his spine

fractured and his spinal cord torn in the accident.

All pelvic bones and the upper ends of his thighs were crushed and the main arteries to his legs were severed. The doctors decided the lower part of the body could not survive and decided to amputate. The operation lasted five hours and as the bladder and bowel were severed from the pelvis, artificial aids were fashioned. Mr Strydom survived two attacks of meningitis during the ensuing weeks, the hospital spokesman said.

He has been undergoing skin grafts. As a preliminary cover skin from his father was used. Later his own was used and the first part of this graft was satisfactory. The second part would be examined on Friday when the dressings were removed, lhe spokesman said. One doctor attending Mr Strydom said he would probably go to Cape Town for further grafts to build up a “cushion” of skin to serve as an artificial buttock.

| Some means of self-propul-jsion, possibly an “oversize [type of roller skate,” will be ‘devised for him. I Mr Strydom, who says he is (“feeling fine” finds it difficult to sleep at night. “Being like 'this gives you an awkward feeling." he said. I. . .