skeleton

Spinal Column Survival with Bony Union
Spinal Column Survival with Bony Union. Part of a spinal column fractured through the last dorsal vertebra twenty-six years before death. The contiguous surfaces of the two portions of the spine have become firmly united by bone after displacement of the upper downwards and forwards upon the front of the lower. As a result of the displacement the upper portion of the spinal canal is occluded, whilst the lower is open and looks directly upwards. further displacement has apparently been prevented by interlocking of the parts. Throughout the portion of the column preserved bony ankylosis has occured extensively, in parts between the bodies of the vertebrae, in parts between the articular processes, and in the dorsal region between the ribs and the contiguous vertebrae. The patient when 26 years of age, fell from a distance of 30 feet upon his abdomen, some bricks from a wall he was pulling down, striking him afterwards upon the back. There was immediate paralysis of motion and loss of sensation in the lower limbs and in the trunk as high as the umbilicus. The patient left the hospital after 3 months. During the rest of his life the paralysis remained unchanged; urine dribbled away and the bowels required opening by enemata every two or three weeks; otherwise he was in good health and well nourished. Specimen is listed in the 1899 UCH Museum catalogue.

University College Hospital

LDUCPC-UCH.12.A.10

12.A.10, BN264, 157, 5383

UCL Pathology Collections