Neurosurgery Experts Discuss Cervical Spine Injury Caused by Vehicle Rollover Accident

Case Overview

This case involves a young female who was involved in a significant accident in which she rolled her SUV while traveling down the highway. After the accident, she was transported to the emergency room where imaging studies were performed. The images that were taken weren’t conclusive of a cervical fracture, and the woman was discharged within the day. During her time in the hospital, she complained of severe back pain, however she was able to walk with assistance. As was later determined, the woman had sustained a serious cervical fracture which went undiagnosed. Within hours of being discharged, the patient developed permanent paralysis. It is alleged that the ER physicians failed to provide a thorough and adequate workup, such as ordering additional imaging studies, or conducting testing to ensure no cervical fracture or major injury was present, which resulted in the loss of the opportunity for neurosurgical intervention. It was also alleged that timely neurosurgical intervention for this patient would have prevented the patient’s paralysis.

Questions to the Neurosurgery expert and their responses

Given that this patient walked out of the ER, albeit in severe pain and discomfort, is it likely that surgical intervention of the cervical fracture would have prevented paralysis?

Depending on the type of fracture and why paralysis ultimately occurred, there could be a major difference in regard to what the best management should have been.

How often do you treat patients who were involved in severe motor vehicle accidents for cervical fractures?

Generally speaking, patients who present to the hospital with complaints of neck pain after a motor vehicle accident should be approached with spinal trauma in mind.

About the expert

This highly qualified, board certified, well-published expert earned his bachelor's degree from Yeshiva University and his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. This expert then did his internship and residency in Neurosurgery at the New York University Medical Center. This expert then completed his formal medical training by pursuing a fellowship in Spinal Surgery at the latter institution. This expert is a member of numerous prestigious medical societies. This expert is well published, having authored 25 peer-reviewed papers and 7 book chapters/reviews. This expert's mastery of research has allowed him to serve as a reviewer for numerous prestigious medical journals. This expert currently is a Director at a Major Spinal Neurosurgery and Neurotrauma Medical Center.

E-004741

Specialties:

Neurosurgery