What would you expect if a person suffers a crush injury to the C3-C5 spinal segments?

If a person suffers a crush injury to the C3-C5 spinal segments, it is highly likely that the injury would affect the phrenic nerve, which originates from the cervical spinal segments C3-C5. The phrenic nerve innervates the diaphragm, the primary muscle responsible for breathing. Injury to this area can result in paralysis of the diaphragm, leading to respiratory failure and an inability to breathe on one’s own.

In such cases, the person may require mechanical ventilation to assist with breathing, since the automatic process of ventilation is disrupted when the diaphragm is no longer functioning properly. Understanding the anatomy and function of the phrenic nerve and its relationship to the cervical spinal segments is crucial in recognizing the seriousness of injuries at this level and why independent breathing would not be possible.