Hangman's Fracture

A hangman's fracture is unique in that it can only occur in one place in our bodies, the axis or C-2 vertebrae. A hangman's fracture occurs when the arch of C-2, most commonly involving both pedicles or pars interarticularis. This is most commonly the result after execution by hanging or anytime the neck is severely hyperextended such as in a car accident. Oddly enough, when a person uses hanging as a means of suicide, the victim most often dies from lack of oxygen, not a hangman's fracture because there is not enough force exerted on the neck. Sublaxation of C-2 on C-3 commonly occurs along with a Hangman's Fracture.

The most frequent sign of a Hangman's fracture is some type of motor function most often due to a compressed cervical nerve or more seriously, compression of the spinal cord. Unfortunately, if the spinal cord is cut, the patient will most likely not survive.

The most common treatment for a hangman's fracture is some type of immobilization. Whether with a stiff C-Collar in the case of stable fractures or with a halo in the case of unstable fractures.

Surgical repair is also sometimes necessary to relieve pressure from the spinal cord and ensure proper alignment. Whether the patient has a stable or unstable fracture, many weeks of bed rest are in their future. The patient recovering from a Hangman's Fracture should consider themselves very lucky to be alive.

I found my picture at imaging.consult.com and my information about Hangman's Fractures on wikipedia.org and in the book Radiographic Pathology for Technologists by Mace and Kowalczyk.