An 18-year-old worker in India tragically died after a heavy metal object fell on his head, causing a rare cervical spine fracture. The blow led to a retropulsion of the C5 vertebra into the spinal canal and an associated C6 fracture. Despite emergency care, including intubation and cervical traction, he passed away two days later. The injury was so unusual it didn’t match any known spinal injury classification systems.
This case, published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports, highlights the devastating consequences of workplace accidents and the limitations of current medical classifications. It also reinforces the urgent need for strict safety protocols, helmet use, and hazard awareness in environments with overhead risks — a single moment can prove fatal.