“My son had a neck bone fracture. The doctors are suggesting surgery. Is it the only option?”
My son is 17 years old and he recently had an accident which caused injuries on his head and neck region. He is now conscious and recovering but is experiencing stiffness all over his neck and head region. The doctors are suggesting surgery to correct the bone fracture. Is it the only option?
8 Answers
SurgeonFractures
Yes, unfortunately.
Please strictly follow the advice of your son’s doctors. Neck injuries can be complicated. To give you an opinion is difficult; it will be necessary to have a review of all the investigations and results of your son’s case and have a clinical review as well.
Without knowing the specific level and type of fracture, it is hard to say what the best treatment is. Often times, with traumatic injuries, if there's an unstable area that could potentially cause a spinal cord or other nerve injury, the best course is to operate. I hope he recovers fast and well.
Sorry about the injury to your son. I am a general surgeon and his problem would be treated by an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon. In my experience, most cervical spine injuries that involve a fracture of one of the vertebral bones do get surgery. The problem lies in the instability of the spine while healing occurs. They sometimes use a “halo” device that is attached to the skull to provide stability during the healing phase. This may be needed even if surgery is done! I could give you a better opinion if I knew more about the exact nature of the fracture, which bone, etc. The pain and stiffness are expected at this point after that kind of injury.
Robert Rubey, MD
Robert Rubey, MD
Yes.
This may be the only option to gain a full recovery from the injury.
We get questions from people and they want us to tell them something different than the doctor has told them. Well if you want another doctor to tell you what they think tell your doctor you want a 2nd opinion. His doctor is not going to get mad. Just remember your son is young and if he has any thing done it should be done while he is young so he can get well sooner.
If there is a fracture, your son definitely needs the surgery, unless you want to take care of a quadriplegic your whole life.
