The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-19
MENDING A BROKEN NECK.
Parts OF TWO OF ToUNG DURYEA'S
VERTEBRAE REMOVED.

He would Tsko No Ether. But Cocaine
Reduced the Pain n Little-Prassuro on
tho Spinal Cord MISUNDERSTANDING Not
Likely to GO seon-Dr. Able Operated.
Walter L. Duryea. OF Glen Cove. whose neck
was broken by a dive into shallow water on
Aug. z. was operated on yesterday at Roosevelt
Hospital The broken parts OF vertsbrB that
were pressing on his spinal cord were removed.
and last night he was reported doing very we'll
indeed though II was too carly to say what are
the prospects, Of his recovery. He refused to
take ether and he was conscious all through
the operation. The operation took place
shortly after o'clock. At s O'Clock Superin-
tendsnt Lathrop Of the hospital read the fol-
lowing statement to the reporters:
BY the use Of the X-ray apparatus the doc-
tors found that the fifth vertebra was fractured
and they removed the posterlor parts OF the
fifth and sixth vertebrae which were pressing
on the spinal cord. thus removing pressure
that had produced some OF the symptoms
The original damage to the cord was so great
that 1t is impossible to say how much benefit
will follow the operation. but some. at least, is
hoped for. Removal OF the fractured bone and
other portions pressing on the spinal cord
was successfully ccomplished. the pa
tient bearing the operation with great
fortitude. While Mr.. Duryea's condition was
such as to render 1t expsdisnt that the opera
tion be done under cocaine. every preparation
was m ade for the administration OF ether, DIR.
Thomas L. Bennett the anRsthetizer OF the
hospital. being on hand for that purpose
There were present Drs. Robert Able Robert
T. Weir and Arthur Fisk. surgeons. and DR..
Pearce Baily and DIR. Fisher. neurologists. who
have been in frequent consultation since Mr..
Duryea's injury.
''Dr. Able told the family OF Mr.. Duryea
that In this class OF cases material i'm prove
ment did not begin under two or three weeks
from the time Of operation.
The foregoing statemen was authorized BY
the family OF Mr. Duryea. without whose oon-
sent such information would not be given out
at the hospital"
Mr.. Duryea 10 . private patient at the hos
pital He has been there since Aug. IL. four
days after the accident by which his neck was
broken. He has been attended By DR.. Abbe.
Injuries such as his. are ordinarily fatal and
very little hope has been held out for his re-
eovery. He has been lying ON a water
bed. his back and neck being supported BY q
splint cut to At his body. He has been con-
scous. but has boon paralyzed from the chin
down. On Sept 5 it was determined to locate
the fracture more definitely with the idea OF
perform ing an operation II 1t were feasible
An X-ray photograph was taken OF his neck
and it disclosed the fractured bono and also
This disocaton so nterfered with tho canal
through which the spinal cord runs that at
tho point OF dislocation there was not sufficient
room for the cord and the bone pressed
against it, causing the paralysis. The nth and
sixth vertcbrip are In the mock at about the
point where the top Of an ordinary standing
collar reaches.
DIR. Abbe's examination Of the photographs
convinced him that an operation might be per-
....L fat. - -. NI,z.,.t
an operation, there was no hope for Mr..
Duryea After the photographs had been
taken the doctors devoted themselves to build
ing up Mr.. Duryea's strength to stand the
operation and he was in At condition on Sun
day when Dr. AbbG secured the consent OF Mr..
Duryea's father. Young Duryea himself had
been anxious from tho day the operation was
first suggested TO have it done.
Mr.. Duryea's room in the hospital is some
distance from the Sims operating theatre.
where nearly all the operations of the hospital
are performed. and It was determined to do
the work in his room rather than to move him.
An operation without ether had not been
thought Of. but when DR.. Abbe called on Mr.
Duryea early in the afternoon the young man
insisted that he was strong enough to bear the
pain no matter how severe 1t might be and he
would not permit the adm istration OF ether
unless the doctor positively ordered it's use
necessary to use ether. Dr. Bennett was In
formed that his services would not be re-
auired. He remained as a spectator. as was
Louis Duryea the uncle OF the patient.
When the time came for the operation. the
physicians named In the abatement above;
several nurses and one or two Of the hospital
physiOians were in the room. Mr. puryea was
on his back in tho water bed. The X-ray pho
tographs were Oh hand. showing the exact
Mr.. Duryea said that he was ready and
he was lifted oyer on his side. He was
lying IN rather awkward position for
ent that could be arranged. DR.. Abbe
made an incisIon OH the back Of the neck next
vertibrae. The flesh was pushsd and lifted
aside. exercising the bone. and the fractured
back of the fifth cervca! vertibra was re-
moved. 1t was pressing hard against the
spinal cord. Next, the sixth yertibra was sim
iarIy treated. All that had been done in the
way OF easing, the pain OF the operation was a
some effect. but it did not kill the pain by any
The operation lasted forty minutes and when
1t was over the spinal cord was again free OF
pressure The bone removed had found tho
fined. The wound was dressed and Mr., Duryea
was returned to his former position in the bed
The doctors stayed with hT for, for some ON tine
encouraged. but they said it was absolutely
come for two or three weeks at least 1t may
be that the operation VIII restore the young
wound heals. While parts Of two bones ' win he bs
missing brom his backbone. he will never miss
them.
OF times. but 1t is rare enough to be OF very
great interest to the medical profession, and
cases makes it more interesting; DURYEA'S in
Jury was similar to that OF Mrs. William C.
Whitney. who, died not long ago after months
ton was attem pted