Persistent vegetative state secondary to a motor vehicle accident

Abstract

The case presents a young girl who was involved in a road traffic accident. Despite being alive at present, her body cannot perform any basic functions since she is in a persistent vegetative state. Numerous examinations and investigations showed several lesions in the head, neck and thorax, the most striking of which being an avulsion injury at the junction of the spinal cord with the medulla. Aim: The purpose of this writing is to shed light on a rare condition brought about by one of the most common mechanisms of injury. Considering the extent of the injury that this girl presented with, her survival rate was low, yet somehow she managed to cheat death. The frequency of such cases taking place in Malta is exceptionally rare, making this episode worth publishing.