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Orthopaedics
In 1914 if you broke your shin bone you ’ d be in hospital for at least six weeks , in plaster for three months and require at least six months off work . Today , the average time off work is six to twelve weeks .
“ The surgeons , in particular Dawson Muir , were amazing to get me back to what I am today . I ’ ve still got a bit of work to do in the running department , but I ’ m cycling faster than I ’ ve ever cycled . I just have to keep working on it and swimming – that ’ s always been my strength anyway ,” says Deidre .
Senior Sergeant Deirdre Lack , Triathlete and Car Crash Victim
Deidre Lack suffered 17 different bone breaks and received 36 units of blood during the surgeries that followed her near fatal car crash outside Te Puke in December 2010 .
“ They told my mum that I had three breaks in my left ankle which they would set and operate on later ; two breaks in my right femur , so they were going to put a rod in that ; three breaks to the pelvis , which they were going to leave as bed rest would heal those . Two breaks to the right forearm , two breaks to the upper left arm and a couple of ribs and fingers . I also had lacerations to the spleen and liver . The surgeons spoke to mum and dad and said , ‘ we don ’ t know if she ’ ll survive the surgery , she ’ s got quite a few breaks , some significant , and a lot of blood loss from internal bleeding from the larger bones ’,” says Deidre .
Eleven weeks after the accident the surgeon told the triathlete she could go home . Five months later Deidre went back to work on light duties . She returned to full duties after passing the police physical test . “ That ’ s when you ’ ve got to jump and pull yourself up onto and over a big six foot wall .”
Within a year of the crash Deidre won a 5km swim at Lake Karapiro and then a year and three days after the crash , she completed a triathlon at Mount Maunganui .
About three weeks after the crash Deidre was told it would be unlikely if she ever ran again . “ I remember mum telling me , and I just thought ‘ awe yeah but I can swim and bike ’. It never crossed my mind that I ’ d never run again … it didn ’ t sink in , I don ’ t listen to my mother anyway !”
Recollection of Roie Kingan ( Ball ), Registered Nurse , Trained 1954
Dr Coates-Milson was there at the beginning of knee replacement surgery . He was also there for other big advancements in orthopaedics . He was a pioneer of orthopaedic surgery in New Zealand .
“ Just to do it , that ’ s what I thought . It ’ s painful , but I got through it . I had so much support from Tauranga Triathlon and police and the whole community of Te Puke , it was amazing . I even had criminals send me cards , which was great .
“ I won a national title at the beginning of 2014 for the Half Ironman . That ’ s a big race and last year I did it and got third in my age group for New Zealand . Just recently I went to the Kinloch Sprint Champs and won silver .
Mr O . Savage at Tauranga Hospital in the invalid carriage he made himself , circa 1930 .
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