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'I faced losing my other leg' 'I faced losing my other leg'
(1 day later)
By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News
Gerald hopes his wound has finally healedGerald Bryan has spent the last 67 years worrying about a leg wound he sustained during WWII.Gerald hopes his wound has finally healedGerald Bryan has spent the last 67 years worrying about a leg wound he sustained during WWII.
His ulcerated leg has flared up regularly, causing him years of intense pain.His ulcerated leg has flared up regularly, causing him years of intense pain.
The former commando was recently told the infection had finally got so bad that he might have to lose his one remaining leg.The former commando was recently told the infection had finally got so bad that he might have to lose his one remaining leg.
But he is now celebrating what he hopes is a cure after treatment at the Wound Healing Centre, in Eastbourne, Sussex.But he is now celebrating what he hopes is a cure after treatment at the Wound Healing Centre, in Eastbourne, Sussex.
War veteranWar veteran
Gerald, aged 87, from Berkshire was shot in both ankles in 1941, fighting the Vichy French in Syria, and had to lose his right leg.Gerald, aged 87, from Berkshire was shot in both ankles in 1941, fighting the Vichy French in Syria, and had to lose his right leg.
"I was shot through both legs with what was, I think, a very heavy calibre machine gun bullet."I was shot through both legs with what was, I think, a very heavy calibre machine gun bullet.
"It entered my left leg, made a neat hole through the middle of the tibia, came out of that leg with a very much bigger exit wound and when it hit my right leg it really mashed the bone."It entered my left leg, made a neat hole through the middle of the tibia, came out of that leg with a very much bigger exit wound and when it hit my right leg it really mashed the bone.
I said but I have only got one leg and I can't spare that Gerald BryanI said but I have only got one leg and I can't spare that Gerald Bryan
"I was taken prisoner by the Vichy French and my right leg was amputated, but they did a great job on my left leg and managed to save it," said Gerald."I was taken prisoner by the Vichy French and my right leg was amputated, but they did a great job on my left leg and managed to save it," said Gerald.
But the wound was unstable and has caused him a number of problems over the years.But the wound was unstable and has caused him a number of problems over the years.
Repeated problemsRepeated problems
Shortly before the end of the war Gerald was accepted for a post in the Colonial Service, which ran the British colonies and protectorates, the doctor there warned him that he faced a life-time of problems.Shortly before the end of the war Gerald was accepted for a post in the Colonial Service, which ran the British colonies and protectorates, the doctor there warned him that he faced a life-time of problems.
"He said - 'the treatment for that is bandage-and-a-damn'."He said - 'the treatment for that is bandage-and-a-damn'.
"When I asked what he meant he said: "Bandage the wound every day and curse it every evening!""When I asked what he meant he said: "Bandage the wound every day and curse it every evening!"
Gerald suffered a number of wound infections over the following years, but the most serious was a bone infection in 2004, when there were fears he could lose his leg.Gerald suffered a number of wound infections over the following years, but the most serious was a bone infection in 2004, when there were fears he could lose his leg.
Regular treatments help the wound to healRegular treatments help the wound to heal
"To avoid surgery I had 14 days of intravenous injections and then I stayed on antibiotics for months."To avoid surgery I had 14 days of intravenous injections and then I stayed on antibiotics for months.
"Doctors said the bone infection appeared to be dealt with, but there was a 30% risk it would start up again within two years."Doctors said the bone infection appeared to be dealt with, but there was a 30% risk it would start up again within two years.
"They said I needed was an orthopaedic surgeon to open up the wound and scrape all the dead bone away, and then a plastic surgeon to take a chunk out of my thigh and stick that onto the wound.""They said I needed was an orthopaedic surgeon to open up the wound and scrape all the dead bone away, and then a plastic surgeon to take a chunk out of my thigh and stick that onto the wound."
Gerald was told doctors could only do this twice, but that if that failed he would have to lose the leg.Gerald was told doctors could only do this twice, but that if that failed he would have to lose the leg.
"I said but 'I have only got one leg and I can't spare that' and I was able to persuade the physician to give me antibiotics instead," he said."I said but 'I have only got one leg and I can't spare that' and I was able to persuade the physician to give me antibiotics instead," he said.
Although the bone infection healed, the wound remained a problem and Gerald got into a pattern of needing two dressings a week and antibiotics once a month.Although the bone infection healed, the wound remained a problem and Gerald got into a pattern of needing two dressings a week and antibiotics once a month.
'Miracle worker''Miracle worker'
Then Gerald was referred to wound specialist Sylvie Hampton at Eastbourne's Wound Healing Clinic, for regular injections of collagen, a protein which binds tissue.Then Gerald was referred to wound specialist Sylvie Hampton at Eastbourne's Wound Healing Clinic, for regular injections of collagen, a protein which binds tissue.
"The wound started immediately to get better, and within two weeks had gone down to half the original size," he said."The wound started immediately to get better, and within two weeks had gone down to half the original size," he said.
And although Gerald did have a set-back he now hopes the wound is finally closed.And although Gerald did have a set-back he now hopes the wound is finally closed.
Gerald lost a leg in WW2Gerald lost a leg in WW2
"I have to thank Sylvie for being in better shape than I have been for a long time."I have to thank Sylvie for being in better shape than I have been for a long time.
"When the thing is open you can't swim, you can't have a bath - altogether it is not a happy time.""When the thing is open you can't swim, you can't have a bath - altogether it is not a happy time."
M Hampton is managing director of the Tissue Viability Consultancy Services (TVCS) which runs the Eastbourne clinic, set up with the help of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). Ms Hampton is managing director of the Tissue Viability Consultancy Services (TVCS) which runs the Eastbourne clinic, set up with the help of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
It has been carrying out trials into new ways of treating wounds, as well as helping NHS patients.It has been carrying out trials into new ways of treating wounds, as well as helping NHS patients.
Ms Hampton said: "Everyone who works in the centre has a speciality in wound care. Generally, you do not get that.Ms Hampton said: "Everyone who works in the centre has a speciality in wound care. Generally, you do not get that.
"We have a lot of specialist knowledge, and also we have all the equipment we need to be able to diagnose and treat."We have a lot of specialist knowledge, and also we have all the equipment we need to be able to diagnose and treat.
"And we can use whatever dressings we think are appropriate. Within the health service you can not always do that.""And we can use whatever dressings we think are appropriate. Within the health service you can not always do that."
>What we have here is not a miracle but a high standard of care Dr David Becker, University College London>What we have here is not a miracle but a high standard of care Dr David Becker, University College London
She added: "If you had a heart attack you would go and see a heart specialist, and people should be at dealing with wounds in the same way."She added: "If you had a heart attack you would go and see a heart specialist, and people should be at dealing with wounds in the same way."
The clinic has treated 220 people in the eight months it has been open.The clinic has treated 220 people in the eight months it has been open.
Ms Hampton is now hoping she will be able to set up more wound healing centres throughout the UK and overseas.Ms Hampton is now hoping she will be able to set up more wound healing centres throughout the UK and overseas.
DedicationDedication
Dr David Becker, of University College London, who has carried out research in the area of wound healing said he believed it was not the treatments being offered that were the key, but the fact that they were able to offer a dedicated service.Dr David Becker, of University College London, who has carried out research in the area of wound healing said he believed it was not the treatments being offered that were the key, but the fact that they were able to offer a dedicated service.
"A common feature of clinical trials for treatments of chronic wounds is that you find that if the wounds get looked after to a very high standard every day."A common feature of clinical trials for treatments of chronic wounds is that you find that if the wounds get looked after to a very high standard every day.
"They often tend to heal in the control groups as well as the experimental treated groups."They often tend to heal in the control groups as well as the experimental treated groups.
"For most chronic wound patients, the wounds would not be treated so often and to such a high standard of care as they seem to be getting from TVCS."For most chronic wound patients, the wounds would not be treated so often and to such a high standard of care as they seem to be getting from TVCS.
"What I think we have here is not a miracle but a high standard of care with daily treatments - and as their stats show many people respond.""What I think we have here is not a miracle but a high standard of care with daily treatments - and as their stats show many people respond."