A Hair-Raising Tale
Going bald has never been more painful.
By: Dr. Jim Kornberg 11/03/2009
I once treated a girl who had been scalped after her long hair had been caught in a rapidly spinning metal lathe. She was nearly unconscious from the pain. At least I had the avulsed scalp to re-cover her wound with a couple of hundred sutures. She recovered, with no complications, full of antibiotics and a tetanus shot, but, for safety, with the temporary hairdo of a marine recruit.
Today, Sanbertson, absent his scalp as a Cheyenne trophy, would be treated with a skin graft taken from his own body that would provide closure for the bare spot on top of his head. Until medicated, like my patient, however, poor Sanbertson’s pain would have been the same.
Comments (3)
The cowgirl cutting board is an odd juxtaposition to the hair-raising old west tale. From the position of the paring knife, she is dangerously close to losing her scalp!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36066289...
Kornberg's articles (latest included) are superb. How did you manage to attract someone of his caliber? Each item is a fascinating fusion of history and medical acumen. Keep up the good work!
Wonderful article!! So well written!
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