Stannington Sanatorium

Patient 91/10 was a 15 year old boy admitted to Stannington on 31^st October 1941, a letter attached to his discharge report alludes to him having been transferred to Stannington from Newcastle. His initial examination notes reveal he had some tightness over the abdominal area and the right hip was in a state of 45° flexion with some adduction, slight exterior rotation and wasted muscle. Signs of two previous sinuses were also present on the right thigh. The patient had previously been admitted to Stannington from August 1936 until February 1939 when he was discharged in a splint which he wore until the age of 13 prior to his second admission and his hip became flexed; unfortunately we do not hold records for patients this early on and as such have no further details about his previous stay. Figures 1 and 2 are two of the radiographs of his first stay in Stannington, the first showing some tuberculous activity in the lungs and the second showing tuberculous involvement in the right hip joint.

This boy was diagnosed with 3^rd stage TB of the right hip and was put forward for a surgical procedure known as an osteotomy. An osteotomy, known as ‘bone cutting’, is a procedure whereby the bone near a damaged joint is cut to realign load bearing surfaces. In the case of patient 91/10 a right femoral osteotomy was performed on the proximal femur to better align it with the acetabulum (socket) of the pelvis, most likely to improve functionality of the limb.

Initial notes on this patient from early 1942 are vague referring to the levels of flexion and adduction in the hip joint but little else. The x-ray report prior to the osteotomy note that no infection is active in the lungs and that there was firm ankyloses in the hip. The osteotomy took place on 13^th February 1942.

Figures 3 and 4, respectively, show the patient’s condition before and after the osteotomy was carried out. Figure 3 shows tuberculous infection in the hip joint, affecting the femoral head with some acetabulum involvement. The right hip appears on a slant in comparison to the left sitting higher up, this could potentially have caused the patient to have limp. Figure 4, taken on 14^th April 1942, shows the results of the osteotomy, where the femoral head has been repositioned with the aim of realigning the hip joint.

Following the procedure, recovery appears to have gone relatively smoothly. A plaster splint was applied to the patient on 3^rd March 1942 where it was noted that the femur had ‘40° abduction – no change’.

No complications are outlined within the notes and the x-ray reports state that there was:

                        ‘14/4/42 –            Good bony union after osteotomy. Position satisfactory.

                        17/7/42 –            Chest no change.

                                                   Hip – osteotomy satisfactory good ankylosis.’

By June 1942 the patient was capable of standing and putting weight on the right leg and is noted to be walking well by mid-July, meriting the osteotomy a great success. The patient was discharged on the 24^th July 1942 as quiescent after a 38 week stay at Stannington. The final surgical outcome can be seen in Figure 5.

To see more radiographic images from Stannington, have a look at our Flickr Stream https://www.flickr.com/photos/99322319@N07/sets/72157648833066476

Sources:

Tuli, S.M (2004) Tuberculosis of the Skeletal System: Bones, Joints, Spine and Bursal Sheaths. Jaypee Brothers Publishers.

The records of Stannington Sanatorium came to Northumberland Archives in the 1980s and at this point a former patient who was in the sanatorium from 1930-1936 wrote to the then Deputy County Archivist sharing his memories of his time in Stannington:

Dear Sir

What a joy and lovely surprise to receive your letter & brochure about Stannington Sanatorium!  I was overcome and close to tears, as having spent nearly 5 ½ years there as a child, & in my formative years Stannington has meant so much to me.  I had a TB knee my parents took me to my Dr. who confirmed it & sent me to Newcastle Infirmary for treatment.  Leg put in Paris of Plaster, did no good to my leg, so I was sent to Stannington feeling terribly homesick & cried every night to go home, however I settled down to a long sojourn & treatment.

Visiting day was once every two months!  My mother, a lovely soul, used to send me books & comics every week.  The Magnet, The Gem, Adventure & Hotspur etc.  How I looked forward to receiving them and a five shilling postal order to buy things at the tuck shop.  Those were the days of hospitals with matrons, sisters, ward sisters, a lady almoner, no unions, but very dedicated nurses and staff, people who loved what they were doing.  Oh yes ward maids who loved us children, the matron was strict but understanding & a comfort too, the nurses used to cuddle us and show us a lot of affection.  I loved it all!

I received good food, had a spoonful of Virol and Numol twice a day, Christmas was special, artists from the Newcastle Empire & Palace came to entertain us, nurses sang carols.  I feel sure we became their children to love and care for I received many kisses from them, the nearness of them as they carried us off to the bathroom was sweet & to a child they became our mothers bless them.  Yes I owe Stannington a lot for my education & way of life because remember it was the thirties & people were hungry and home, no work for men and lots of pawn shops open.  But there was no violence, or muggings as they call it and we could walk the streets at without fear & folk were caring and kind, what a sad state of affairs today Sir.

I was born and bred in Wallsend served my apprenticeship as a joiner at Swan Hunters very strict too.  I had a happy time as a youth, used to dance at the Oxford Galleries, drink at the Pineapple Grill & go every Saturday to the Empire to see visiting bands such as Roy Fox, Harry Roy, Lew Stone etc. and also to a 4 hour show at the Paramount Cinema complete with organ and stage show all for half a crown.  Oh happy days!

I am returning in three weeks’ time I remember a lot of my little friends who died in Stannington while I have been blessed with a good working life, a family & good health.  I am a true Geordie in my nature and spirit I am full of nostalgia for Stannington and Newcastle and those people who were true and dedicated to their work who gave a little boy from Wallsend on Tyne lots of love and care and put me on my feet again.  I have worked out since, in my memory summers were long, people were nice and one never grew old.

Thank you

[HOSP/STAN/13/5]