Internal decapitation

Internal decapitation, atlanto-occipital dislocation, or orthopedic decapitation describes the rare medical condition in which the skull separates from the spinal column during severe head injury. This injury is usually fatal, since it usually involves nerve damage or severance of the spinal cord.

The practice of hanging relies on internal decapitation, as it creates a situation where subjects' necks are broken under their own weight. (A botched hanging can result in a gruesome external decapitation or, if the neck does not break, a situation in which the subject strangles to death.)

People who have survived internal decapitation

In January 2007, a Lincoln, Nebraska woman survived the injury, as there was little nervous system damage.^[1] In July 2007 an 11-year-old boy in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan also survived with a hospital stay of only two and a half weeks.^[2] In April 2004, a 14-year-old Phoenix, Arizona boy suffered an internal decapitation after being struck by a car while on his bike. The boy recovered from his injuries, and was featured on the shows I Came Away Alive for the National Geographic Channel,^[3] as well as Untold Stories of the E.R. and "Medical Incredible" for the Discovery Health Channel. In October 2008, a 9-year-old Hillsboro, Texas boy was internally decapitated during a car accident. Despite being given little chance for survival, he made an almost full recovery within 3 months of the incident and was able to return to school in the beginning of 2009.^[4][5] Jon Wilhite, a former baseball player and Cal State Fullerton catcher, suffered the same injury in a vehicular collision on April 9, 2009. Jon Wilhite survived the injury.^[6] In August 2009, 18-year-old Amanda Kapp survived this as well.^[7]

On Christmas Eve, 2009 5-year-old Meadow Rhynes from Providence Village, TX suffered an internal decapitation from a head on car accident. Meadow also had traumatic brain injury, brain stem damage, and massive internal injuries. Neurosurgeons at Children's Medical Center Dallas performed an Occipital-Cervical Fusion from the C0-C5 to fix the injury of the head coming off of the spine. Meadow's other injuries were also taken care of and Meadow is back to almost 100% baseline, only a year later, after the accident occurred.

On December 19, 2010 a 20 year old woman, Amber McKinney, was in an accident with her boyfriend and survived the internal decapitation. Along with the internal decapitation, she had a brain injury and a broken femur. She recovered in two months.^[8]

On July 31, 2011, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant David Smith was rear ended by a drunk driver while sitting on his motorcycle at a stop light in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, California. Smith went on to survive the injury, having the C1, C2 and C3 cervical vertebrae fused by surgery through the back of his neck and the all 3 fused to the base of his skull via titanium hardware, nine days later. David Smith was walking 2 days after surgery and in physical therapy within two weeks and was released from hospital before the end of August, 2011.

See also

• Cervical fracture
• Basilar skull fracture

References

1. ^ Mark Andersen (2007-05-23). "Woman recovering after internal decapitation". Lincoln Journal Star. http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/05/23/news/local/doc46538b42329b2339623435.txt. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
2. ^ Darren Bernhardt (2007-09-04). "Boy recovers after near decapitation". Regina Leader-Post. http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=d31b9bed-10cb-41ef-a0e6-6f673d616c91&k=67177. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
3. ^ Whiting, Brent (2008-03-05). "Valley 'Miracle Boy' subject of TV show". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0305gl-miracle0305-ON.html. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
4. ^ Smith, Harry (2008-12-22). "All But Decapitated, Boy, 9, Recovers". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/22/earlyshow/health/main4681572.shtml. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
5. ^ CBS 11 Medical News
6. ^ Giasone, Barbara (2009-07-09). "How doctors saved Adenhart crash survivor's life". The Orange County Register. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wilhite-bhatia-skull-2488296-jon-spine. Retrieved 2009-08-28. 
7. ^ Delesline III, Nate (2010-01-25). "Lucky to be alive". Culpeper Star-Exponent. http://www2.starexponent.com/cse/lifestyles/culpeper_news/article/lucky_to_be_alive/50999/. Retrieved 2010-05-23. 
8. ^ Janet St. James (2011-01-21). "Young woman's recovery after traumatic brain injury". WFFA Dallas/Fort Worth. http://www.wfaa.com/news/Young-womans-recovery-after-head-trauma-114393874.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 

http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/Christmas-awaits-young-woman-who-suffered-serious-injuries-in-wreck-114845144.html