An Iowa family is expressing profound gratitude to the UI Health Care orthopedic surgery team for their swift and effective intervention following a harrowing car accident that left a young man, Jackson Webber, with a paralyzed arm due to a severe neck injury.
In a testament to the critical role of emergency medical care, the staff at the UI emergency department quickly brought in orthopedic surgery experts upon evaluating Jackson’s condition. The medical team, led by a specialist with considerable experience in treating spinal trauma, determined that the severity of the C4 vertebra break necessitated immediate surgery.
Jackson’s mother, Jennifer Webber, recalls the overwhelming anxiety she felt learning about her son’s critical state. She emphasized the desire for her son to receive care from top specialists, highlighting the distress and uncertainty faced by families in such dire situations.
Prior to the operation, the surgical team discussed the inherent risks associated with the procedure with the Webbers. Due to the critical location of the C4 vertebra in the neck, any mishap could potentially lead to full paralysis from the neck down. The medical team emphasized the unpredictable nature of spinal surgeries and the possibility that neurological functions might not be fully recoverable.
During the surgery, the damaged C4 vertebra was meticulously removed, and the spinal cord was relieved from the pressure of bone fragments.