F- CLINICAL ASPECTS OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES
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1963, at the age of 56. Four months after injury, he was admitted to Stoke Mandeville in a
pretty hopeless condition. However, he made an excellent readjustment to his complete
paraplegia, including walking on elbow crutches. He was firmly encouraged to take up
surgery again, and with great reluctance he agreed to try. Four months after his discharge
from Stoke Mandeville, he sent us photographs of his first operation (megacolon),
which he performed in standing position having designed a special support. Figs. 2713, b, c
shows the various stages of being transferred to the theatre, scrubbing up, etc. He con
structed a special frame with a support in front to prevent falling over and an orderly
pushed him to the washroom and theatre, as shown in Fig. 271. In his letter he wrote *I
enclose photographs of my first operation after my paraplegia. This happened to be the
day of my 57th birthday, a very happy occasion.' There are several doctors paralysed as a
result of spinal cord injuries or disease, who are now directors of spinal units or general
rehabilitation centres and doing outstanding and devoted work in this speciality.
Another example is a tetraplegic from Barcelona, Spain, who since his tetraplegia,
has been outstanding in his social activities for the community (W.G.-G.). In spite of
his profound disability (complete tetraplegia below Cf), he returned to his previous
leading position in the sherry business of his family. During his inpatient treatment
at the Centre, he became interested in the designing of spinal units. After return home,
he re-built a dilapidated hospital for venereal diseases, which was offered to him by the
Spanish Government, and became the founder and chairman of the Board ofManagement
of the first Spinal Injuries Centre in Spain, in his home city of Barcelona which increased
within 5 years from 20 to 80 beds.
(b) This is a group of paraplegics who, owing to their permanent disability, were not
able to return to their former jobs but succeeded in getting different jobs in their former
trades. As an example is a man who, previous to his injury, had worked in a chemist's
shop and had sustained a complete paraplegia below T6. He became employed by one of
the largest pharmaceutical firms in this country as a proof reader and making abstracts
from various medical and pharmaceutical journals. In co-operation with his son, he set
up a small factory for making optical lenses. He has been full-time employed since 1946.
Another example of this group is a priest with a complete paraplegia below T7 due
to gunshot injury in the war. He overcame the critical condition in which he was admitted
and became an excellent example to other paralysed in his ward. He took up his priesthood
again after the war and is still continuing his ministry part-time, and in addition he is
also employed in marking examination papers.
(c) This group consists of paraplegics and tetraplegics who were not able to return
to their former occupation, such as regular soldiers, officers, bricklayers, coalminers, etc.,
and had to be trained to other jobs.
Mention has already been made of a former bricklayer who was trained at the Centre
in cobbling and leatherwork and has been in charge of a section in a shoe-making factory
for over 20 years.
A young naval lieutenant, with a complete transverse lesion below Ti2 took up a
correspondence course in agricultural science. He has been full-time employed for the
last 24 years by the Bucks. Agriculture Executive Committee and is an established civil
servant for many years (R.M.).
