The defendants appeal from a judgment awarding workmen’s compensation benefits for partial permanent disability of the body as a whole, allegedly resulting from an injury to a scheduled member, in this instance, the plaintiff’s right foot.
The pertinent findings read:
“1. Plaintiff suffered an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment on November 21, 1962 when a trailer hitch fell on his right foot.”
“4. That from the time of his injury through the date of trial, Plaintiff received weekly medical treatments and has not yet been discharged by his physician.”
“9. Plaintiff has suffered partial permanent disability to his body as a whole in the amoiuit of 35%, from the accidental injury.”
The appellants do not question findings 1 and 4, but do complain of finding number 9. It is their contention that any award should have been limited to an injury to a scheduled member, the “right great toe with the metatarsal bone thereof” as provided by § 59-10-18.4(33), 1953 Comp.
It is well established that the scheduled injury section is exclusive unless there is evidence of separate and distinct impairment to other parts of the body in addition to the disability resulting from the injury to a scheduled member. Boggs v. D & L Construction Company, 71 N.M. 502, 379 P.2d 788. But the converse of the rule is noted. When the effects of an injury to a scheduled member extend to and impair other parts of the body, compensation is not limited to that provided by statute for loss of the scheduled member or the loss of use thereof. Gonzales v. Gackle Drilling Company, 70 N.M. 131, 371 P.2d 605. Also see 2 Larson’s Workmen’s Compensation Law, § 58.20, and we quote in part therefrom :
“The great majority of modern decisions agree that, if the effects of the loss of the member extend to other parts of the body and interfere with their efficiency, the schedule allowance for the lost member is not exclusive.
A common example of this kind of decision is that in which an amputation of a leg causes pain shooting into the rest of the body, general debility, stiffening of the hip socket, or other extended effects resulting in greater interference with ability to work than would be expected from a simple and uncomplicated loss of the leg.”
Consequently, we review the record to determine whether there is evidence of a substantial nature of bodily impairment and disability beyond that due to the loss, or loss of use of the scheduled member. In our review this court must construe the findings of the court liberally so as to support the judgment. Plains White Truck Company v. Steele, 75 N.M. 1, 399 P.2d 642.
Appellee was of the age of 59 years when he sustained the injury and had worked for the appellant, Eidal Manufacturing Company, for some 17 years, part time as a foreman and later as an assembler. The latter work required the lifting of heavy objects, in some instances as much as 200 pounds. On November 21, 1962, a jack supporting a trailer weighing some 4 or 5 tons slipped, causing the trailer hitch to fall onto appellee’s right foot, about the middle. The right foot was badly broken. He was taken first to Dr. Minear who X-rayed the foot, found it broken and placed it in a cast. Later the foot was treated by Dr. Haas for a considerable period of time. In January, 1963, he returned to work but the employer had him to do only light work, and in March, 1963, his employment was terminated. Thereafter, he was never able to do heavy work due to continuous pain in his foot, legs, right side and in his back. When he walks, due to pain, he tilts the weight of his body off the first metatarsus, causing the foot to turn inward, which is not normal. At times he has to walk on his heel or heel and toes and has developed a definite limp. Since March, 1963, he has assisted his wife and children in operating a small store at 112 Girard, N. E. in Albuquerque, but is able to do only light work. Also he is unable to drive an automobile for any length of time because of leg and back pains.
Dr. Sidney Schultz, a physician and orthopedic surgeon, treated appellee previously in 1957 for a like injury to his left foot. He saw him later in June, 1963. At that time he examined, took X-rays of appellee’s right foot, and obtained a history of the case. In answers to the following questions propounded with respect to appellee’s latter injury and disability, the doctor stated :
“Q. Now, doctor, has this injury affected plaintiff’s ability to walk ?
A. Yes.
Q. In what manner has this injury affected plaintiff’s body?
A. In the sense that his abnormal weight bearing, that is his bearing weight on the outer side of his foot, by altering his gait and shifting his mechanics could cause him some back pain and the patient does complain of pain going up to his back.
Q. What is the condition of his foot at the present time ?
A. The condition of the foot is such that I beliéve this man has pain in the foot on prolonged standing, that he would have pain on walking on uneven ground and even prolonged walking on even surface because he doesn’t bear his weight normally on the foot but tilts the weight off the first metatarsus.
Q. You stated, doctor; there was a shortening in the metatarsus?
A. This shortening is present on both sides. This is normal for him but with this fracture and angulation it has shortened a short bit more.
Q. Does this have any effect on the ability to walk?
A. I think the deformity of the bone itself, plus the fact he has a fracture line entering the joint causes pain. Therefore, he is protecting it. He is balancing his weight on the outside.
Q. This causes the foot to roll inward ?
A. No, it causes the foot to turn inward, what we call inversion, so that he picks the inner side of his foot off the and rolls the outer side toward the floor, so that he is bearing most of his weight toward the small side of the foot. This is not normal. We bear most of our weight on the big toe side of the foot at the head of the first metatarsus.
Q. When. Mr. Salome was on the stand this.morning, he testified he had pain in the left knee, can you account for this?
A. Just on the basis of abnormal stress and strain on his knee, perhaps all that and even up to his back, if he walks prolonged periods, with this foot held in that position.
O. . Is a' foot appliance needed for this man at this time?
A. I think so. I think something should 'be done, some type of support made' to' attempt to more evenly distribute his weight so that he can try to get off .the outside of his foot.
* * * * * *
Q. How would you rate his functional disability at the present time?
■A. ..It depends on the occupation. I think for a sedentary occupation, the man - would -have very little disability.
I think he would have a great deal of disability going into the 75% category for heavy work, say for work over uneven ground, for work that would involve a lot. of heavy lifting.
Hi Hs Hi Hi sfc *
-Q.. Doctor, do your clinical findings support his complaints?
A. ■ Yes.”
Jerry Jordan, an investigator for the appellants, was called as a witness by them. He testified that he took motion pictures of appellee’ while attending the store. This was for the purpose of rebutting appellee’s testimony that he walked with a limp. The pictures were admitted into evidence and according-to the views of the witness Jordan'no limp was shown to exist. Dr. Schultz previously had stated on cross-examination that if he could see the pictures it possibly could alter his testimony as to appellee’s injury and bodily disability. Thereupon the court suggested to counsel that Dr. Schultz should be given an opportunity to view the pictures and report to the court by letter. That the parties agreed to the court’s suggestion is reasonably inferable from the fact that no objection was made to the suggested procedure and from the further facts that both parties rely in part upon Dr. Schultz’ report. The-, report reads:
“DRS. SCHULTZ & HURLEY Orthopedic Surgery Encino Medical Plaza, Suite 14 717 Encino Place, NE Albuquerque, New Mexico
SIDNEY SCHULTZ, M. D.
LLOYD A. HURLEY, M. D.-,
August 8, 1963
Judge John B. McManus, Jr.
City Court House Albuquerque, New Mexico
RE: Edward K. Salome
Dear Judge McManus:
The motion pictures 'on the above named patient were shown in my office on August 5, 1963. The films showed the patient sweeping, walking, ■ and squatting down. No other -significant activities were noted although 'the' patiént did use his right foot on one occasion to flatten something on the ground. . At no time did the patient appear to limp. During his sweeping activities he raised his right foot from the ground on repeated occasions but it is impossible to state whether or not this was just a normal action in the course | of his sweeping or whether he was actually favoring the right foot. It is regrettable that no other activities were displayed and I feel that it is impossible to accurately determine the actual degree of the patient’s physical ability from the scenes shown.
There is no question in my mind that this man can perform light work without significant difficulty which he did in the motion pictures. I still feel that he would have trouble performing heavy work for any prolonged period of time. The motion pictures do not alter my opinion in this regard.
From the standpoint of disability we have a knotty problem. For the type of work which the patient was seen to perform in the motion pictures I do not feel that he would have more than a ten per cent permanent partial disability of the body as a whole. For work involving excessive bending and heavy lifting 'this disability might go as high as seventy five per cent, of the body as a whole. These figures are related to the body as a whole despite the fact that I am aware that' h'is injury 'wás . confined to the right foot. However-,-if - - the patient really does have my [any] appreciable limp for any prolonged period of time there is no question that he would have some symptoms referable to his low back despite the fact that:no ■ injury to this particular area was sustained. My recommendations for treatment remain unchanged.
I hope this is the information which you desire. Should there be any other questions, I would be more than glad to discuss the situation with you.
Sincerely yours,
S/ Sidney Schultz, M. D.
Sidney Schultz, M. D.”
We conclude from 'the testimony that the court was warranted in 'finding that as a medical probability the appellee had a general bodily impairment and disability fairly traceable to the injury tó his right foot. Compare Reck v. Robert E. McKee General Contractors, 59 N.M. 492, 287 P.2d 61; Hamilton v. Doty, 65 N.M. 270, 335 P. 2d 1067; Lipe v. Bradbury, 49 N.M. 4, 154 P.2d 1000.
Appellants rely strongly on our 'recent cases, Boggs v. D & L Construction Company, supra, and Sisneros v. Breese Industries, Inc., 73 N.M. 101, 385 P.2d 960, as support for their position that compensation should be limited to the scheduled member. The cases have been carefully considered and they are distinguishable on the facts; no general bodily disability was shown to exist in either of these cases. It follows the judgment should be affirmed. Appellee will be allowed $750.00 for the services of his attorney in representing him in this court.
It is so ordered.
CHAVEZ, J., concurs. MOISE, J., concurring specially. CARMODY, C. J., and NOBLE, J., dissenting.