"Shattered Hip Socket - Pelvic Head Pushed..."

Having been hit by a car whilst cycling, I was taken to Burton Queen's Hospital, where the severity of my Pelvic injury was considered such that I needed the expert attention of the surgical team at Royal Stoke Hospital. Due to the overload on the NHS, I was held in Burton for 3 days in severe pain awaiting a bed at Stoke in the queue for surgery. A team of 5 surgeons spent five and a half hours repairing my pelvis and fitting an artificial hip. I had allowed the surgical team to choose the optimal solution of a hip replacement, since as they explained, repair of the existing socket would have resulted in rapid arthritis and another operation in a couple of years. The leading surgeon came to speak to me on their way home a couple of days later and explained that they had sliced the Femoral head (removed to allow insertion of the metal hip) and bone grafted it to reinforce the inside of my Pelvis, to permit an easy second replacements hip, because I may wear out the one their team fitted. This was a significant major operation with metal plates and a Cup to support my new hip socket. It required access to both my hip, and to the inside my Pelvis; I have a very neat scar some 400mm long. My recovery in the Trauma Ward 225, and subsequently in a General Ward was excellently handled, the kindness consideration and care from the Nurses, Physiotherapists and other staff was wonderful. I was encouraged to walk with a walker 36 hours after surgery (one of the Surgeons saw me take my first steps and commented that it was amazing!). the Physiotherapists ensured I was competent on crutches and ascending/descending stairs before allowing my release after only 5 days.

Following a visit to Stoke Outpatients for an examination, and also the Physiotherapy, wound dressing and clip removal and home help equipment, supplied by the Hinkley district Nursing team, in only 10 weeks I can walk well without a stick; although I have more physio to rebuild some of my muscles. My admiration and gratitude go out to the NHS in general, and to Royal Stoke in particular, for their unstinting competence, hard work and humour.