Broken neck while surfing

[Surfer Dave]

After being pitched over the front of a wave at Maroubra Beach Sydney, I broke the top vertebrae in my neck. It was a classic Jefferson Fracture with a 9mm displacement and a snapped ligament (http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic31.htm). I have attached a couple of CT images.

I was in a halo for 5 weeks before one of the pins punched through my skull. It was removed and I have now been wearing a neck brace which goes from the top of my head to the middle of my torso for a further 4 weeks.

I have seen 3 Neurosurgeons and 1 Orthopaedic Surgeon and they have provided widely varying opinions. One said "it will heal and you will be fine" while another said "you will need a skull-C1-C2 fusion" which will leave me with 50% loss of head rotation and nodding. The middle ground appears to be a C1-C2 fusion because at 8 weeks there wasn't much bone growth showing. This will leave me with 50% loss of head rotation.

I was wondering who would be the best doctors in Sydney to see about this type of injury. Some Doctors that I have been told about are as follows.

Dr. Sheehy (St Vincent's hospital)
Dr. Davies (St. George Hospital)
Dr. Stenning (Prince of Wales Hospital)
Dr. Mobbs (Prince of Wales Hospital)
Dr. Couglan (Prince of Wales Hospital)
Dr. Ruff (Royal North Shore Hospital)
Dr. Ryan (Royal North Shore Hospital)
Dr. Farey (Royal North Shore Hospital)
Dr. Brennan (Mater Hospital)
Dr. Michael Morgan (???)

If you have had any experience with this sort of injury, I would love to hear your experiences.

Regards

Dave

[Surfer Dave]

Forgot the CT Images!

[simontt]

Best doctor to see would be Dr Tim Steel at St Vincents Hospital. My girlfriend works at vincents and she says he is the person to see for spine problems. He apparrently specializes doing minimal fusion procedures if they are needed. He will only operates if you really need it. Not like some surgeons will. Sounds like you need to see someone like him! Good luck!

[Surfer Dave]

Best doctor to see would be Dr Tim Steel at St Vincents Hospital. My girlfriend works at vincents and she says he is the person to see for spine problems. He apparrently specializes doing minimal fusion procedures if they are needed. He will only operates if you really need it. Not like some surgeons will. Sounds like you need to see someone like him! Good luck!
Thank you Simon, I hear that he is very good as well.

I believe he had a run in with the law a couple of years ago. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/socialite-surgeon-pleads-guilty/2005/09/21/1126982098408.html

Another doctor I have heard about is William Sears

Regards

Dave

[kjwilkin]

Hi there,

It's great that Dr Bentivoglio has helped your with your back.

However, you need to be very careful about making defamatory comments about doctors on this website.

[Merri]

Well Surfer Dave now that you have done the rounds of Neurosurgeons share with us (me) what has been your best advice and consequently your decision? This must have been a very expensive and time consuming activity for you.

[CodyH.]

Hello All,

I recently had a fall and I got some whiplash from my head jolting so suddenly when I hit the ground. I have been experiencing "pins and needles" like sensations in my arms and shoulder. It hurts to move my neck too far to the right and when I do I get a hot stabbing pain shoot down my arm. Could this be a serious neck injury? Canwalkagain, would you mind telling me more about your experience with Dr. Benti...whatever, at St. Vincent's? How long did it take you to heel and what sort of symptoms did you experience? Let me know either on the message board or privately message me.

thanks! Helpful site!!

Cody

[Merri]

Cody you need to go to either your local ED or straight to your GP you definately need a CT of your neck! The symptoms you have are not good and you definately need to have them investigated immediately. Your immediate danger is if you were to have another fall or were bumped on the train or something like that. You must do something today!!!!

[CodyH.]

G'day Merri,

Thanks for the advice. I just came from seeing my GP. I am going to have CT scans tomorrow and then I will be reviewed by the GP, although he said that from the sounds of thigs that I should try and make an appointment with neuro.

Cheers Mate

[Surfer Dave]

Hi Cody. Good to see you got along to your GP. You just can't take any chances with the ol' spinal chord.

Immediately after reading Simon's recommendation, I rang up and got myself an appointment with Tim Steel. The secretary was very pleasant and did ask the usual question of whether I had private medical insurance and let me know the (high) cost.

Merri.... I will give you an update of my rounds of the neurosurgeons after I see Dr. Steel. I feel like I am only just starting to understand some of what is going on and will be able to ask him the tough questions.

I only have a couple of weeks to go before my next CT to see whether it has healed. Here's keeping my fingers crossed.

I also noticed this related thread
http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=382

Got to love the internet ....forums for everything.

[canwalkagain]

Hello Cody,

I am sorry to hear about your fall and your neck. I hope that the pain is manageable with some strong pain killers while you wait to find out what the problem is. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine, only, I also had problems with mobility. I have just written you a private message about my symptoms and what sort of drugs I was on. read it and get back to me. As for Dr. Bentivoglio, he is FANTASTIC. He is very upfront and honest. For me surgery was the BEST and most sensible route. He may suggest something more conservative for you, he may not. If you want, call up his secretary and make an appointment ASAP. I do not know what his wait list is at the moment, it is probably quite long, maybe get your GP to make the appointment or get him/her to call Dr. B personally as that may get you in straight away. You couldn't find a better pair of hands to put yourself into. All best to you and yours.

[Surfer Dave]

I saw Doctor Steel and found him to be very helpful and professional. He took an hour to explain everything and answer all of my questions despite him fitting my appointment in on a day when he wasn't seeing patients.

[richard parkinson]

Dear Cody

I would strongly recommend you get an MRI done, to exclude disc, nerve and spinal cord injury.

Regards

Richard Parkinson
Neurosurgeon
St Vincent's Clinic

To the other posters on this forum- I have an strong interest in neurosurgical problems related to sporting injuries.

[canwalkagain]

Well Cody, it has been a while since anyone heard from you. Any news? I hope that whatever the situation, all is well or on its way to being much better. Drop us a line sometime and let us know your results and how your appointment was.

[Merri]

Yes I keep checking back in to see what has happend with Cody and also Surfer Dave,
what has been your decision Dave???? I know you have studied you suitation in depth and for some really weird reason I am actually interested as to your decision on choice of Surgeon

It is wrong that you tease us and then go away!