What does it mean when the brain stem detaches from the spinal column?

Question

I know someone who was in an accident. She had her two children with her. One will most likely survive while the other is not expected to. He has a head injury and his brain stem has detached from his spinal column.

I know this is extremely serious, but I just wanted to have some sort of idea of his chances. He's only 5 years old.

Answer 1

I'm assuming you're talking about an atlanto-axial dislocation, the bony injury, rather than actually having a disconnection of the brainstem and spinal cord. That would almost certainly have been immediately fatal. The bony injury may be associated with severe neurologic defits, with quadriplegia. Moreover, spinal cord injuries above the C4 level disrupt the ability to breath (which is a large part of the high rate of immediate fatality). But there's a lot of room in the spinal canal at the C1/C2 level, and a fair number of patients with the bony injury don't have an injury to the spinal cord, in which case fixing the bones in place will prevent cord injury.

Answer 2

IF he lives, he will most likely be paralyzed from the neck down.

Answer 3

usually any damage to the brain stem is lethal...the brain stem contains the basic function such as breathing and if he is alive i would say he might remain a vegetable or at the best a quadriplegic...I am so sorry my prays are with you...

Answer 4

I think he'll be paralyzed from the neck down which is like crazy sad,  but at least you can talk and stuff.

Answer 5

usally death instantly as this also happens when hanging occurs,but the child will be paralyzed from head down and be in an iron lung for breathing, if he survived bless him,he will be a cabbage

Answer 6

If that happens you are dead: you stop breathing and the heart stops.

However, it is possible for the SKULL to detach from the spine and survive. I know of two cases locally, one has almost no lasting impairment and the other is partly paralyzed but able to walk.

Answer 7

The brain stem is the lower part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord.

Different diseases of and trauma to the central nervous system (CNS), as well as their consequences are common causes of death and therefore it is important to examine the CNS appropriately in forensic autopsy, bearing in mind that the site of the disease is often as crucial as its nature. The CNS is a complex organ and its examination requires special methods and knowledge and often consultation with a neuropathologist. The prerequisite for the proper examination is correct handling and processing of the CNS. Because of its soft consistency fixation of the CNS in toto before detailed macroscopic analysis is recommended but guidance for an expedited limited examination is also given. The key features to which attention should be paid during the removal and later macroscopic examination of the CNS are described. Processing CNS for microscopy also requires special techniques and in addition to the routine stains both special histological and selected immunohistochemical stainings are often needed to reach the correct diagnosis.

Answer 8

i think that makes you a quadripalegic. so sad

Answer 9

I think you mean spinal cord?  The spinal column is the part of the skeleton that surrounds the spinal cord and supports your skull.  

The spinal cord carries messages from your brain to your body and brings messages from your body back to your brain.  

If the spinal cord is "separated" from the brainstem, that means that at whatever level that separation occurs, the parts of the body below that will not function properly.  The guts and heart have their own system, so they don't really need the brain to function, but you need connection at the cervical spine (specifically the spinal cord at the level of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th cervical vertebrae) to ennervate the diaphragm.  So, separation at that level (or higher) means that the child will not be able to breath independently, and if the child was deprived of oxygen for a long time, the brain and other organs (liver, kidneys) may well have suffered so much damage that the child won't survive.  

Chances depend on the level of the injury, other injuries that he may have suffered, and how fast he received care.  If he is not expected to survive, I suspect he has a high injury and spent too much time without breathing (so, no oxygen).  

Poor little guy.  

Sounds like a horrific accident.