International Journal of Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Research

Cervical spine injuries can be rapidly fatal, often without overt external signs, particularly in high-energy trauma such as road traffic accidents (RTAs). We report the case of a middle-aged man who died shortly after a night time RTA. Although he sustained only minor cutaneous injuries, autopsy revealed a fatal C6–C7 cervical spine fracture-dislocation associated with massive internal haemorrhage. This case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for spinal injuries in trauma cases and highlights the critical role of postmortem examination in uncovering hidden fatal injuries. 

Cervical spine fracture, Road traffic accident, Internal haemorrhage, Autopsy, Spinal trauma, Sudden death

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