Decapitated but not Dead! -- Research Summary

CERVICAL SPINE SURGERY:

The goal of cervical spine surgery is to relieve pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, restore nerve function and stop or prevent abnormal motion in the spine. The surgeon does this by removing a disc or a bone and fusing the vertebrae together with a bone graft either in front of or behind the spine. The bone graft may be one of two types: an auto graft, bone taken from your body, or an allograft, bone from a bone bank. Sometimes metal plates, screws or wires are also used to further stabilize the spine. These techniques are called instrumentation. When the vertebrae have been surgically stabilized, abnormal motion is stopped and function is restored to thespinalnerves.(http://www.spineuniverse.com/)

INTERNAL DECAPITATION:

Internal decapitation occurs when the ligaments connecting the skull to the spine are severed due to severe head trauma. Typically, the head is only held in place by the skin and spinal cord. Any movement could cause injury to the spinal cord and result in devastating neurological consequences or even death. Internal decapitation is five-times more common in children than it is in adults. (SOURCE: bnaneuro.net )

SURGERY:
In order to fix internal decapitation, a neurologist may implant a titanium loop in the neck/head to reattach the base of the skull to the spine. A piece of the patient's rib may be removed and used to hold the rod in place. (SOURCE: bnaneuro.net )

SURGERY AFTERMATH:
Although most patients who endure severe head trauma and internal decapitation have severe neurological damage, some will have a full recovery with no brain damage or neurological issues. In some cases, the patient will have full neurological function but will lack the ability to move the head in any direction. The surgery itself is very high risk and could result in paralysis, neurological damage or even death. After the surgery, patients have to be careful with their movement. One hard hit or fall could end in paralysis or death. MORE
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Craig Boerner, National News Director
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
(615) 322-4747
Craig.boerner@vanderbilt.edu

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Decapitated but not Dead! -- In Depth Doctor's Interview | Medical News and Health Information