SA:Aboriginal man survived major trauma

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2010
SA:Aboriginal man survived major trauma

By Tim Dornin

ADELAIDE, Dec 15 AAP - An Aboriginal man who lived about 1000 years ago survived a
life-threatening fall and went on to live for many years in a case that has amazed scientists.

The man, aged about 50 when he died, suffered multiple leg and arm fractures and lost
a large amount of blood in what was probably a fall of several metres from a tree or cliff.

Given the level of care and medical knowledge available at the time, such injuries
should have claimed his life.

But recent studies of his skeleton, which was found in a single burial site in Adelaide
in 1920, have revealed he not only recovered from his injuries but suggested he, and those
caring for him, expected him to.

In a report published in the latest ANZ Journal of Surgery, surgeons Brian Cornish
and associate professor Lucian Solomon and indigenous archaeologist Keryn Walshe said
the man's injuries were severe.

He would have suffered initially from shock, blood loss and pain and later from pressure
ulcers and the risk of infections.

They said the fact that he survived, and lived on for years, could only be the result
of his outstanding fitness and the standard of care he received.

"This is the remarkable thing about this case," Professor Solomon said.

"These days, surviving multi-trauma is strongly associated with emergent resuscitation
and treatment in modern medical facilities.

"Multi-trauma survival before the advent of modern medicine is likely to have been
extremely uncommon, particularly in primitive societies."

Prof Solomon said the man's survival reflected an impressive depth of nursing and social
support in a community of hunter-gatherers.

It also raised questions about the use of very effective herbal medicines and sedatives
to control infections and ease pain.

The report said the sustained diligence required in the man's level of care also suggested
those caring for him had an expectation of success and were evidence of the prevailing
support mechanisms in his community.

As his injuries healed he was left with deformities to both his arm and leg, affecting
his ability to walk and severely limiting his ability to hunt or gather.

The fact that he appeared to have lived for years after the incident, demonstrated
his community's ability to care and provide for such individuals.

AAP tjd/lk/maur

KEYWORD: TRAUMA

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