 f some of my friends, work colleagues or acquaintances
are unaware, I was unfortunately involved in a near fatal road traffic accident, on
Saturday the 8th March 2003,
in Newcastle-Gateshead. I was treated at three hospitals in the north east of
England for the various injuries that I sustained, and spent a total of 9 weeks
being treated. Which included 6 weeks in ICCU, 3 of which while unconscious. I
was discharged from hospital on Wednesday 7th May 2003.To add to the above treatment, I was admitted to
Swansea Morriston Hospital on Tuesday 9th November 2003, to receive an operation
on my right femur, to replace the gas filled femoral nail which I had since
March 2003, with a fixed vector nail. The reason for this, is to
try to resolve some of the problems caused by the previous nail being positioned
in slightly the incorrect position (leg length shortness etc). It is believed
that the operation was a success, but the proof will be in the pudding when I
can fully walk without the aid of crutches, in a further 6 weeks. I was
discharged from hospital on Monday 15th November 2003.
Below are some of the unfortunate implications that the
accident has had on myself.
One of the longer lasting affects is the impact that it
seems to have had on my friends, I now have the misfortune of being nicknamed
Steve Austin! or The Six Million Dollar man.
Injuries Sustained
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Ruptured right hemi-diaphragm |
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Fractured right femoral shaft
(Femur) |
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Fractured right acetabulum
(Pelvis) |
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Fractured mandible |
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Fractured body C5 |
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Fractured right 5th metacarpal |
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Fractured right clavicle |
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Bilateral lung contusions leading to fibro proliferative
ARDS |
-Right Pelvis & Femur X-Ray-
Operational Body Scarring
 |
1/4 Inch scar below adam's
apple |
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1/4 Inch scar above right knee, for fixing screw entry |
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1/4 Inch scar below right pelvic bone, for fixing screw entry |
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2 Inch scar across outer of right knee, for entry of fixing screws |
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2 Inch scar across lower jaw
inside mouth |
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3 Inch vertical scar on my
right ankle |
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7 Inch scar up the outside of
my right knee |
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7 Inch scar up the outside of
my right femur |
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26 Inch scar leading from my
upper right leg across my hip |
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32 Inch scar in a wishbone
formation across my stomach |
-Right Ankle X-Rays-
-Right Pelvis & Femur X-Rays-
Hospitals Attended
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Newcastle Freeman, Newcastle Upon Tyne |
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Queen Elizabeth, Gateshead |
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Royal Hospital, Sunderland |
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Royal Glamorgan, Llantrisant |
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George Thomas, Treorchy |
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Llwynypia Hospital, Tonypandy |
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Morriston Hospital, Swansea |
-Right Pelvis Chain X-Rays-
-Right Pelvis Chain & Femur Nail X-Rays-
The Figures
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3 Week's
in a Coma |
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4 Different
Imaging Scans, X-Ray, CT / Cat, MRI, &
Ultrasound |
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4 Ambulance journey's |
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Drip-fed for over 4 weeks |
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Unable to speak for 5 weeks |
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5 Hospital wards |
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6 Operations |
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7 Hospitals |
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7 Months of physio |
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8 Broken Bones |
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10 Operational Scars |
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16 Months sickness from work |
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Right leg
20mm shorter than
before (now only 4mm) |
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68 Day's in Hospital |
|
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114 weeks of treatment & consultation |
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Over 180 X-Rays taken |
Further Details
Final Note:-
I
would like to thank all the dedicated staff that I have been fortunate to meet
during my time at the various hospitals that I have attended. The Surgeons,
Consultants, Doctors, Anaethnatists, Specialist Staff, Nurses, Assistant Nurses,
Cleaning Staff, Porters, even the catering staff.
If it were not for all of you, I would not be here today!
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