Question
Hi.  My mom was involved in a motorcycle accident in which she sustained bad head trauma, a C1 fracture, and a C2 fracture.  The accident happened in a poor city in Mexico where she was treated then airvaced back to Arizona.  She didn't make it and I can't help but wonder if the accident had happened in AZ would the outcome be different and if so, what would her life be like?  I know you can't say exactly without reviewing the case, however any insight would be helpful.  Thank you so much for your time.

Kristyn

Answer
Kristyn,
First of all I cant say for sure about her particular case because I did not examine her personally.  I can tell you that a C1/C2 fracture is the absolute worst fractures that you could possibly sustain and very often cause instant death or shortly after the injury.  To get an idea of what life would be like, you could look at what happened to Christopher Reeves (Superman) who sustained a C1 Fracture and had to live on machines to breath for him and to regulate his heart rate.  He was more dead then he was alive, when he was living after that accident and injury.
I am not sure where you are going with this but I can tell you that this is the worst type of injury any person could sustain.
In Your Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor
"Brainstem Specialist"
Arnone Clinic
711 Old Ballas Road Suite 104
St Louis, MO 63141
(314)995-5719