Semi-truck and other heavy truck wrecks can cause a variety of injuries due to the force of the impact. For neck injuries specifically, your neck takes the brunt of the force in a collision due to the rest of your body being restrained by a seatbelt.
The force of a wreck can cause the neck to move side to side vigorously and rapidly. Moreover, you may tense up your muscles in response to an incoming collision, which can result in higher risks of muscle strain. All these actions can lead to damage in ligaments, muscles, intervertebral discs, nerves, joints, tendons, or the bones in the neck, also known as vertebrae.
The neck is a complex and vulnerable structure that consists of seven tiny cervical vertebrae in the spinal column. Between each of these bones are the intervertebral discs that separate them, as well as facet joints that connect the bones and allow you to move your head. This musculoskeletal system supports the neck, skull, and spinal cord.
While the most common cervical spine injuries affect the cervical discs because they act as shock absorbers, there are many other neck injuries that can occur. In wrecks with semi-trucks and other heavy commercial motor vehicles, like dump trucks or flat bed trucks, the force of a collision can result in a cervical fracture, or a broken neck.
What is a Cervical Fracture?
The cervical spine houses the spinal cord, which connects the rest of the body to the brain, allowing it to send messages to control the body. Your neck also connects the base of the skull to the upper back, or the thoracic spine through the seven vertebral segments in the neck.
A cervical fracture, or a broken neck, is a fracture of any of those seven vertebrae. This injury is most commonly caused by heavy truck and passenger vehicle accidents, as well as major falls. Injuring any of these vertebrae can lead to serious health problems, which can include temporary or permanent paralysis, and possibly death. This is due to damage to the nerves in the spinal cord because of the fracture, ultimately affecting bodily functions.
Symptoms of Neck Injury/Cervical Fracture
After a truck wreck, neck pain can begin immediately or in the hours or days following. Regardless, you should promptly seek medical care as soon as you notice symptoms.
Symptoms that can be indicative of a neck injury may include:
- Inability to turn your neck side to side
- A heavy feeling or stiffness in the neck or head
- Difficulty looking up or down without pain or at all
- Throbbing pain
- Shooting pain
- Headaches
- Tenderness in the neck or back of skull
- Pain that migrates into the back or shoulder area
- Muscle spasms in the neck area
- Pain that radiates into the arms or back
- Swelling in the neck or throat
- Trouble falling asleep
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or fingers.
If the neck pain is severe or it persists for several days, it is vital to see a specialist immediately.
A cervical fracture specifically is associated with the following symptoms:
- Pain, swelling, tenderness, or muscle spasm in the neck area
- Difficulty or complete inability to move the neck
- Double vision or loss of consciousness
- Problems swallowing liquid or solid food
- Loss of feeling in the arms and legs.
A fractured neck is an emergency and immediate medical intervention is vital if you suspect a cervical fracture. It is important to avoid moving the neck as much as possible. At the hospital, doctors will keep you still and stabilize your body right away to prevent spinal cord injury.
How Cervical Fractures are Diagnosed
Doctors use a combination of patient history, physical examination, and imaging studies to diagnose a cervical fracture. After discussing the symptoms that are present, the doctor will examine pain levels in the neck and test the neurological system.
They may choose to order a C-spine X-ray to see if bones are broken or other neck problems are apparent. A CT scan or MRI scan may follow to see if there is damage to the skull, brain, or spinal cord. These scans can also show the doctor how severe the fracture is, which vertebrae are broken, which parts are broken, and if any spinal cord or nerve injuries are temporary or permanent.
Treatment of Cervical Fractures
How a cervical fracture is treated will depend on the severity and which of the vertebrae was affected. Some patients may need a long-term hospital stay or even a breathing tube.
For minor fractures, a cervical brace can be worn until the bone heals. This will prevent the head and neck from moving, which allows the fracture to heal on its own. Immobilizing the neck may be necessary for several months, depending on how long it takes to heal. Braces may need to be worn anywhere from six weeks to three months. The type of brace needed will depend on the nature and location of the fracture.
Common braces include:
- Halo brace: This is attached to the head with pins and cannot be removed until the end of the treatment period.
- Semi-rigid collar: This uses plastic plates to stop side-to-side and up-and-down movements of the neck.
- Soft collar: This is a flexible brace, typically worn after the use of a more rigid brace.
A doctor will also typically prescribe medications to help reduce pain and swelling.
If the fracture cannot heal with use of non-operative treatments, a specialist may recommend surgery. The exact procedure will depend on severity and location of the fracture but may include reconnecting pieces of the bone to hold them in place, repairing the vertebrae, relieving pressure on the spinal cord, or removing damaged vertebrae discs. Some operations may use plates, screws, or wires.
Following both non-operative and operative treatments, patients can expect to engage in physical therapy as well. This involves specific strengthening and range of motion exercises for the limbs. If ability to swallow or talk was affected, you may be referred to a speech therapist to rebuild these skills. Physical therapy may be necessary for months or years, depending on severity.
However, if the cervical fracture caused spinal cord injury, nerve injury, or paralysis, you may have to make major life changes to adjust to a new normal. This could include inability to work, participate in certain physical activities, and engaging in long-term rehabilitation to regain function.
Have You Sustained a Cervical Fracture from a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help
Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired.
Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.
Reach out for a free case consultation today at (800) 746-0226 or online.
David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.
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