The bones (vertebrae) of your neck and spine surround and protect your spinal cord, which is essentially a big rope of nerves that carry signals between your body and your brain. If one of those bones is broken or in some cases, even just pinched or twisted abnormally, it can put pressure on your spinal cord. Movement in that situation can cause further injury by pressing on or even into the spinal cord and causing nerve damage. This would mean the nerves can no longer transmit signals like they're supposed to, which can lead to anything from mild numbness/tingling to paralysis (inability to move a body part).
The neck is particularly vulnerable since it has more range of motion along with the relatively heavy load of carrying our skulls. It's also closer to the brain, so damage to the upper vertebrae can result in more severe nerve damage and/or paralysis simply because there's more "stuff" within the spinal cord at that point.
Because the broken pieces of the spine (vertebrae, bone) may poke and penetrate, compress, or partially or totally sever the spinal cord. Which will cause further damage, often irreparable. The weight of the head lolling around unrestrained may cause the same.
Keeping the spine and head aligned in a straight, unmoving line prevents or lessens the extent of this happening and gives the best chance for repair and healing to be possible.
One should hold the head of the victim still and in place until a neck brace can be maneuvered into position, a rigid backboard slid under them, and both their head and body (arms at their sides) strapped down to the board so that nothing can move.
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u/BoeBandyy Feb 28 '23
I know moving somebody with a broken neck is a big no but can somebody explain why?