Description
This shows the cervical spine, opened to display the spinal canal. The body of the fifth cervical
vertebra is fractured and compressed, and the spinal column related to this shows an area of
haemorrhage near its centre.
History
This man was admitted, at the age of 32, with a fracture of the cervical vertebra and total
motor paralysis below the 8th cervical segment, and partial sensory loss to pain below the 4th
thoracic segment. He had been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Some 5 days after admission,
he lost consciousness unexpectedly, and was found to have grossly raised intracranial pressure; he
had a fracture of the occipital bone. He died shortly afterwards.