Contents
One of my patients decided to jump off the jetty because he saw the water reaching up to the neck of teenagers hugging in the lake. He did not know, however, that the boy and the girl were kneeling – says the neurosurgeon, Dr. Miłosław Bemben. – Today the unlucky jumper lies paralyzed and sees only the ceiling.
Injuries that occur as a result of head jumping in too shallow water are most often tantamount to spending the rest of your life in bed. A fully conscious patient has no power in the limbs and is unable to perform any activities on his own, adds Dr. Bemben. According to statistics, every year such a jump ends in disability for at least 400 people.
Spinal cord
The spine is a brilliant structure that supports the entire body and protects the spinal cord. The core is a gelatinous structure suspended in a liquid and surrounded by a dural sac. It has the shape of a thick rope with an average diameter of 1 cm and a length of about 41-45 cm. It is protected by small bones in the shape of vertebrae with a hole in the middle. “There is something to protect,” explains Dr. Bemben. – It is the core that transmits the information flowing from the brain, thanks to which we can move our arms and legs, feel touch, temperature and pain, and control our physiological functions.
Spinal cord injury
About half of all diving injuries to the spine end in damage to the spinal cord. “It doesn’t mean that it has to be cut off with scissors,” explains the neurosurgeon. – Injury to the vertebrae puts pressure on the spine and this can cause the cells there to die. Unfortunately, medicine cannot cope with this problem. “We cannot make the dead cells work, which means that the paralysis is irreversible,” says the doctor.
Paralysis after jumping into the water
The consequences of a spinal cord injury depend on the site of the injury. The closer to the head, the worse. It may even happen that the muscles of the respiratory system will stop working and the patient will not be able to breathe on his own. If the injury occurs below the chest, only the legs may be paralyzed. “Unfortunately, when jumping into the water, the trauma mainly affects the cervical region,” explains Dr. Bemben. With very good luck, during an unfortunate jump, only the core may shake, which results in paralysis lasting several seconds.
Fracture of the spine
Some diving accidents result in a spine fracture without damaging the spinal cord. The patient can move the limbs, but there is pain in the spine. – Treatment is, at best, a corset worn for about 3 months. Often, however, an operation is necessary to fix the spine with screws and rods, or to insert an implant – explains the neurosurgeon. He also points out that a broken spine can damage the spine, even if it was left intact during an unfortunate jump. – Therefore, after an unfortunate jump into the water, despite the victim’s movements of arms and legs, due to the risk of spinal cord damage, it is necessary to stiffen the fracture site – warns Dr. Bemben. He added that he dealt with patients who did not damage their spinal cord during the jump, but as a result of improper handling after getting out of the water. – Remember that after an unfortunate jump it is necessary to immediately put on a surgical collar to prevent damage to the core. (See the video: Don’t jump on your head! – editorial note)
First aid for spine fractures
If we witness a tragic jump into the water, we should immediately pull the victim ashore and call an ambulance.
If he broke his spine, but did not damage his spinal cord, he will be able to get out of the water by himself. The injured person has to wait for the ambulance in a lying position. Since a broken spine can damage the spine, it is best to cover the victim’s neck with clothes on the sides and make sure that he does not move his head. In the event that the amateur of jumping into the water melted and lost consciousness, check if the injured person is breathing. Tilt the victim’s head back and hear (bring your ear close to the victim’s mouth and try to hear the murmur of exhaled air) and at the same time with your eyesight (watch if the victim’s chest is rising) check the victim’s breathing for 10 seconds. If the injured person is not breathing, start artificial respiration and compresses the chest. Perform 2 breaths alternately (cover the victim’s nose and put your mouth tightly around the victim’s mouth and blow the air in him) and 30 compressions in the central point of the chest (at the intersection of the nipple line and the sternum).
Text: Halina Pilonis
Also read: Summer first aid
Everyday ills of the spine!