Hangman’s fracture
What is it?
Bones of the spine are called vertebrae. A hangman’s fracture is unique in that it occurs in only one specific vertebra, second vertebra, also known as C2. This bone is the one that is damaged in the archaic practice of hanging as a means of criminal punishment, hence the name. Nowadays, most of these fractures occur in car accidents, fall or sports accidents.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a hangman’s fracture are much like those of many other neck injuries and conditions. The most common symptom is pain immediately following the trauma. If left untreated, other symptoms can occur due to the instability of the vertebra, including increased pain, numbness and tingling in arms or legs, paralysis, and weakness.
Diagnosis
Because it’s not immediately certain that a hangman’s fracture is the cause of the pain, it’s very important to reach a diagnosis as soon as possible after the trauma. Doctor will take a history, including any injuries, past or present. Fracture can be identified on several types of imaging scans: X-ray, Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scan, Computed tomography (CT) scan.
Treatment
There are numerous treatment options available for hangman’s fracture. The findings of the imaging and the severity of the symptoms will determine what type of treatment would be best. If it is minor fracture, wearing a rigid collar for a period of time to keep the neck stable and immobilized usually is sufficient. If the fracture is causing instability, the surgery may be required. Surgical hardware known as instrumentation, made of special metallic alloys, may be used to bring the spine back into alignment and prevent the pieces of fractured vertebra from moving apart and causing serious damage. Fusion involves using bone grafts to connect two or more vertebrae to provide a strength and stability.