Patton: death of a soldier. Historical vignette.
General George S. Patton Jr. died as the result of quadriplegia sustained in a car crash in Germany in 1945. His x-ray films revealed a fractured C-3 vertebra and a posterior dislocation of C-4 on C-5. The likely cause of death was a pulmonary embolus. Details of his medical treatment are reviewed and compared with therapies that a patient with a similar injury would receive today.
Rovit
Richard L
RL
Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA. rlrovit@optonline.net
Simon
Arlene Stolper
AS
Couldwell
William T
WT
D002423:Cause of Death; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D005197:Famous Persons; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000266:history; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000266:history*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000266:history*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000266:history; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000266:history; D014481:United States