Rounding off what would have easily passed as one
the toughest days of my life at work, a young beautiful lady was rushed
to the ER. She was obviously in pains and her dressing suggested that
she was either coming from a party or going to one.
I
have had enough for the day and was already seeing my bed in trance and
was just waiting for the doctor on afternoon shift to resume duty.
Since he was nowhere to be found I had to attend to her.
As I guessed when she came in, she was attending a
party, her fiancée was having his birthday party at a hotel nearby and
was there attending to visitors when she slipped and could not stand up
thereafter.
A further inquest revealed that she was wearing an
8-inch high heel shoe. She inadvertently stepped on her flowing gown
and tripped and landed on her side.
A brief examination shows she was stable except for
the pain. I gave her some narcotic analgesics to relieve the pain and
ordered for x-ray of the hip, as that is where she said the pain was
more.
Just as I was suspecting, the x-ray came back revealing a fracture of the neck of the left femur!
I can’t but wonder what disservice this young lady
did to herself by wearing such a mountain (somebody brought the shoes:
Ellie 821: an 8-inch clear high heel shoe) in the name of fashion.
Since we do not have an orthopaedic surgeon at our centre, I promptly refer her to a private one nearby.
The only ambulance at our centre was out on an errand, so I took her there in my car.
I can never forget the change in the mood of the
surgeon after I explained the condition of the young lady to him, he
was obviously happy. His office has all the tell-tale signs that
business is dull.
He quickly examine the x-ray that has been lying on
his table all the while and made some notes in the air, clear his
throat and said, “there is a fracture of the bone that anchors the
thigh to the hip, and it seems to be badly damaged. We will have to do
what they call Austin Moore Hemi-arthroplasty”
He pursed for a good measure, obviously to allow the
message to sink, and then continue, “This means, we will replace the
head of the bone that is broken. This will cost you about N700, 000 for
the surgery besides the drugs, admission and other expenses”
The relatives asked for permission to go out and
discuss. Their options are limited and they will definitely find a way
to pay the money. I then asked the doctor what was going through his
mind when he called such a huge amount. He simple said, “When I heard
the story and confirmed the diagnosis from the x-ray, I simply thanked
my stars for putting food on my table again and I said to myself,
“Thank you for wearing high heels””
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