Why is it called a hangman's fracture?

A hangman's fracture is a break in the second vertebra of your neck, called the C2, or axis. This bone forms a ring around your spinal cord. A hangman's fracture occurs on both sides of this bone. Despite its gruesome name, a hangman's fracture is rarely caused by hangings.

How does a hangman's fracture cause death?

The fracture is in most cases lethal. The fracture is caused by an extreme force on the upper vertebrae and especially on the dens of the axis. The fracture causes damage to the spinal cord which leads to paralysis of respiratory muscles and most often death.

What does hangman's fracture means?

A hangman's fracture is a bilateral fracture traversing the pars interarticularis of cervical vertebrae 2 (C2) with an associated traumatic subluxation of C2 on cervical vertebrae 3 (C3). It is the second most common fracture of the C2 vertebrae following a fracture of the odontoid process.

What is the hangman's bone?

The bone involved in hangman's fracture is the second vertebra, toward the top of the neck, close to the skull. It is designated as C2: “C” for its location in the cervical spine (spine in the neck), and “2” for its position as the second bone in that spinal segment.

What happens when you break your neck at C2?

Symptoms of a minor C2 fracture can include problems moving the neck, pain, swelling, tenderness, trouble swallowing, loss of feeling or a tingling sensation in the arms and legs,numbness or pain at the base of the head, double vision, or loss of consciousness.

Hangman's Fracture, C2 Fracture - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim

Can you survive a hangman's fracture?

If your hangman's fracture is treated appropriately, the chances are good for an excellent recovery. A review of 32 papers showed that the least severe type of hangman's fracture had a healing rate of 100% with immobilization alone.

What are the odds of surviving a C2 fracture?

C2 fractures are associated with a 20% and 40% increased risk of mortality within 3 months and 2 years, respectively. The majority of C2 fracture types are type-II dens fractures. This is troublesome because these have a pseudoarthrosis (non-union) rate that exceeds 50%.

What happens if you break your C2?

C1 and C2 Vertebrae Breaks, Fractures, and Misalignments

Symptoms following an injury to the cervical vertebrae C1 and C2 may include: Complete paralysis of arms and legs. Muscle atrophy. Limited head and neck movement.

What does a C2 fracture mean?

The hangman's fracture refers to a break in a bone known as C2, because it is the second bone down from the skull in your cervical (neck) vertebrae. A fracture can be a partial or complete break in a bone. The injury can also cause the C2 to move out of alignment with the bone right below it, known as the C3.

What is a Bennett's fracture?

The Bennett fracture is the most common fracture involving the base of the thumb. This fracture refers to an intraarticular fracture that separates the palmar ulnar aspect of the first metacarpal base from the remaining first metacarpal.

What is the C2 in your neck?

What are the C1 and C2 vertebrae? The C1 and C2 vertebrae are the highest of the spinal vertebrae and are located at the very top of the neck, connecting the head to the spine. The C1 vertebrae is named atlas and the C2 vertebrae is named axis.

What does the C2 control?

The C1 and C2 vertebrae function together to give your head flexibility. With the atlas and axis relationship, you are able to swivel and rotate your head, as well as support your head. These two vertebrae are more responsible for the head's rotational range of motion than from any other joint.

What is green stick fracture?

A greenstick fracture occurs when a bone bends and cracks, instead of breaking completely into separate pieces. The fracture looks similar to what happens when you try to break a small, "green" branch on a tree. Most greenstick fractures occur in children younger than 10 years of age.

Why is C2 atypical?

C1 and C2 are considered atypical vertebrae because they have some distinguishing features compared to the rest of the cervical spine. The two vertebrae just below the skull are C1 (the atlas) and C2 (the axis).

What is a Philadelphia collar?

A Philadelphia neck collar is a rigid, non-toxic hypo allergenic, latex-free foam collar that provides rigid plastic support in front and behind your neck. It is designed to provide support to the cervical spine by preventing any movement while healing is taking place.

Is a C2 fracture painful?

While C1-C2 is relatively sturdy and resistant to injury, it can become quite painful and problematic due to trauma or degenerative conditions. These problems may also affect the spinal nerves, vertebral artery, and/or the spinal cord at the at the C2 level.

What part of the spine can paralyze you?

The vertebra are named according to their location. The seven vertebra in the neck are called the cervical vertebra. The top vertebra is called C-1, the next is C-2, etc. Cervical spinal cord injuries usually cause loss of function in the arms and legs, resulting in quadriplegia and spinal cord paralysis.

How long does it take for a C2 fracture to heal?

Odontoid fractures. Treatment for type I C2 (axis) fractures is hard-collar immobilization for 6-8 weeks, which usually is quite successful. Type II fractures can be managed conservatively or surgically.

How long does it take for a C1 and C2 fracture to heal?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans are usually performed prior to any treatment to ensure spinal stability and normal vertebral artery flow. Typically, recovery after nonsurgical treatment of C1-C2 takes 8 to 12 weeks.

What is butterfly fracture?

A fracture, typically of long bones, in which the centre fragment is triangular. A butterfly fracture of the pelvis is one in which there is an X, the centre of which comprises the symphysis pubis which is detached by four fractures.

What is a nightstick fracture?

An isolated fracture of the ulnar shaft is defined as a nightstick fracture. The injury derives its name from the idea that a suspect struck with a police nightstick would hold his forearm above his face in a defensive posture when struck with a police baton, resulting in a fracture to the ulna.

What is a Barton fracture?

The Barton fracture is a fracture of the distal radius which extends through the dorsal aspect of the articular surface with associated dislocation of the radiocarpal joint.

Why does my neck crackle when I move?

When we move our head and neck, the facet joints glide and slide over one another. As the lubrication begins to wear away and decrease over time, the surfaces of the facets can rub or grind over each other, creating a cracking sound. The movement often is associated with a crackling neck crack or grinding sensation.

What is another name for C2?

C2 (cervical vertebra): C2 is the symbol for the second cervical vertebra, which is also called the axis. It is so-named because the uppermost cervical vertebra (called the atlas) rotates about the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra.

What do you call the bone below your neck?

The hyoid bone (hyoid) is a small U-shaped (horseshoe-shaped) solitary bone, situated in the midline of the neck anteriorly at the base of the mandible and posteriorly at the fourth cervical vertebra. Its anatomical position is just superior to the thyroid cartilage.