FRACTURED NECK

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 29, 28 October 1932, Page 9

FRACTURED NECK

Man Makes Recovery 11 WEEKS IN HOSPITAL After spending over 11 weeks in the Auckland Hospital, Mr. Thomas Joseph Grace, aged 19, of 56 Old Mill Road, Grey Lynn, is now at home, rapidly approaching full and complete recovery from a broken neck. Mr. Grace broke his neck while practising acrobatics at the house of a friend on July 24, and for four days afterward continued to go to his work in the city. However, he was suffering from partial 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 to keep his head in one position. Care 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 constructed 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 was 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 of the case are confident that he will make a complete recovery.