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Orthopaedics

Neck Fracture Patient Credits Dr. Poelstra for Her “Excellent Outcome”

On September 29, 2006, Helen Lieberman had a C1-C2 fusion for a widely displaced odontoid fracture — a badly broken neck. After the surgery she was only in the hospital for one day and, according to her surgeon, Dr. Kornelis Poelstra, she had an “excellent outcome.” Read her story below.

 

How did you injure yourself?

I tripped and fell flat on my face in my house. When I got up, I couldn’t move my neck. I went to a local hospital and they did X-rays. They said my neck was broken and there was a fracture. They had to transfer me to Shock Trauma immediately.


What happened next?

When I arrived, immediately there were a dozen people talking to me. Dr. Kornelis Poelstra, [assistant professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine] said I had two choices — I could have surgery or just wear a neck brace and hope it gets better. I decided to have the surgery.


How was your recovery?

After the surgery I was only in the hospital for one day. They called me ‘the miracle baby.’ Dr. Poelstra was so pleased that I healed so fast. I healed very, very well. The scar is a beautiful scar, and my hair covers it entirely.

Afterwards, I wore a neck brace for eight weeks. After the neck brace I wore a neck collar for a week. I had no problems. They gave me a walker when I came home. I used it for awhile, but I don’t use the walker in the house now.

A physical therapist came over and showed me arm exercises. Now I have physical therapy twice a week — they apply moist heat, massage, and exercise my head to try to get more range of movement.


How are you doing now?

I had my final follow-up in December. Dr. Poelstra wants to follow-up in a year. He says I’m doing great; he is very pleased. But he said I would not have full range of motion with my head. Hopefully physical therapy will help some.


What did you think of Dr. Poelstra and the other staff at the University of Maryland?

He was great — very gentle, thorough and kind. He explained things really well. Everybody there was really great; the help was wonderful.

People don’t believe me when I tell them I broke my neck. I was very, very lucky. It worked out fine. Dr. Poelstra was absolutely wonderful.


This page was last updated on: May 18, 2007.

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