Toddler’s head reattached to spine after car crash

[webfact]

Toddler’s head reattached to spine after car crash

BRISBANE: -- Surgeons in the Australia city of Brisbane have managed to reattach a toddler’s head to his spine after it was severed in a high-speed car accident.

Sixteen-month-old Jaxon Taylor was internally decapitated after the car he was travelling in collided head-on with another car at 110 kilometers an hour.

Dr. Geoff Askin, performed the six-hour surgery to reattach Jaxon’s head to his spine.

“A lot of children wouldn’t survive that injury in the first place and if they did and they were resuscitated they may never move or breathe again,” Askin said.

Local media in Brisbane said the toddler will have to wear a neck brace for a couple of months to allow the tissues and nerves connection his head to his spine to heal.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-10-08

[MaeJoMTB]

Amazing that he's walking already!

[JetsetBkk]

"internally decapitated" - could do with a bit more of an explanation about what that means. Well done the surgeons and good luck to the boy, but I think the press are somewhat exaggerating the injury.

[atyclb]

It means the spinal chord was severed without the head, neck being severed.

[Expat1]

Outf'instanding. Impressive medical science. Go Aus doctors.

[freebyrd]

Heartwarming, I saw him on TV, a real cute happy little fellow. Let's hope he has a long and happy life ahead of him.

[hugh2121]

Incredible. Always thought this was impossible.

[Credo]

Slow down, kid, your movin' too fast.

[Dap]

WOW!!! One very lucky child.

My hat's off to the surgeon and his team

[JetsetBkk]

It means the spinal chord was severed without the head, neck being severed.

After Googling, I found the non-sensationalised truth: the spinal chord was completely unharmed. The neck vertebrae were separated and grafted back together using part of a rib and wire.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/toddler-miracle-surgery-internal-decapitation-article-1.2387285

[cornishcarlos]

Bet they can't do a blood transfusion on an elephant though