This website focuses on spinal injuries from trauma. The content
is selective and only highlights some aspects about spinal
A broken neck is when one or more of the cervical (neck)
vertebrae are broken or fractured.
There are seven vertebrae in the neck.
A broken back is when one ore more of the lumber or thoracic
(back) vertebrae are broken or fractured. There are twelve
thoracic vertebrae and five lumber vertebrae in the back.
Vertebrae can be broken or fractured from trauma when too
much pressure or weight is forced upon the vertebrae. It takes
extreme or unnatural pressure to fracture or break a vertebrae.
You can run, jump, lift heavy objects and fall without fracturing
or breaking a vertebrae. The human body can withstand a lot of
stress before a vertebrae or any other bone bends or breaks.
Vertebrae can be broken in sports like: football or rugby, being
hit by a hockey stick, martial arts and fighting, falling from a race
horse, skydiving, mountain-climbing, skating, bike riding, rodeo
events, stunt riding, motor cycle or motor car racing.
Other common causes are:
Falling down stairs or off a ladder, falling from a tree, or a roof,
falling awkwardly from a height, being hit by a hard object or from
motor vehicle accidents
Other factors to consider which affect injury are a persons
body proportions and body weight, muscle strength and
fitness, the health of the bones or bone mineral density.
Symptoms from an injury will vary from one person to the
next. Generalising too much or trying to simplify a broken
neck or vertebrae injury can result in misdiagnosis.
Someone who is fit and active and healthy may be more
resilient to an injury and might make a better recovery.
Inactivity and poor diet can lead to weaker bone strength.
The vertebrae supports the body, accommodates flexibility
and movement and protects the spinal cord. A broken
vertebrae does not mean being paralysed. If the spinal cord
is compressed or damaged then paralysis can occur.
There are many different scenarios which can result in
spinal cord damage and paralysis, too many to examine.