Splash Safety: Local neurosurgeon warns of head and neck injuries in the pool

THE WOODLANDS, TX – As temperatures soar and families flock to pools, lakes, and beaches, emergency rooms see a surge in preventable brain and spinal cord injuries directly linked to water activities.

Dr. Joey Grochmal, a complex spine and peripheral nerve neurosurgeon with Baylor St. Luke’s Health - The Woodlands Hospital, has extensive experience treating patients whose summer fun turned into a lifelong struggle.

Grochmal knew at an early age – when he was in the 4th grade of elementary school – that he wanted to be a surgeon. Attending medical school and earning his MD from the University of Alberta, he also received his PhD from the University of Calgary – where he also conducted his medical residency – before moving south of the border to complete a Clinical Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. It was in his second year of medical school, when he was shadowing doctors in the operating room, that he witnessed a pediatric scoliosis surgery and knew which path he wanted to take.

Today, he is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who also serves as an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He specializes in surgery for a wide range of conditions, including complex spine trauma, degenerative spine disease, spinal deformity, and adult brachial plexus and peripheral nerve issues. He is actively developing a clinical program for ‘gain of function’ nerve transfer surgery for patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury.

“When I’m not doing doctor things, I enjoy hitting the gym and spending quality time with my two wonderful kids, who are 11 and 13,” he told Woodlands Online.

Safety when swimming is paramount in Grochmal’s life, however. He has seen firsthand too many times the tragic and traumatic effects of what happens to the spine and brain when someone dives into shallow water or hits unseen objects.

“Surprisingly, lakes are a bigger culprit for such injuries than swimming pools,” he told Woodlands Online. “Not knowing the depth, not being able to see the bottom, and the water being filled with various growths and objects make it more of a danger than the typical swimming pool.”

In the case of swimming pools, most injuries occur at dive heights of one meter or less, and the most common causes involve unintentional collision with the diving board or platform, particularly when attempting flips or backward dives.

Age and intoxication levels are the two largest factors when it comes to head, neck, and spine injuries. Children aged 10 - 14 represent the largest group of injured divers, accounting for 42% of diving-related injuries in children and adolescents. While this age group has the highest volume of injuries, adolescents aged 15 - 19 are at a greater relative risk for injuries to the extremities.

Boys are significantly more likely to experience severe outcomes, being two times more likely than girls to sustain head or neck injuries or fractures. Data indicates that boys comprise 64% of total diving injuries, with the majority of these occurring in the 10 - 19 age range.

On the other end of the age spectrum, the bilateral fracture of the C2 vertebra – also grimly known as the ‘Hangman’s Fracture’ – are particularly high risk for elderly divers. These injuries typically lead to paralysis or brain bleed, with a poor chance of recovery; head and neck injuries are bad enough, but spinal cord injuries make recovery particularly difficult, if not impossible.

To substantially mitigate the risk of top-half injury, Grochmal starts off with a simple – but seldom-used – suggestion. “If you’re considering diving, jump in feet first for the initial attempt,” he told Woodlands Online. “That way, if you misgauge the depth or underwater obstacles, you only end up with a broken ankle, which is vastly more preferable than a broken neck.”

Additionally, he strongly suggests limiting alcohol intake and maintaining zero drug levels, and for swimmers to think twice before attempting a dive. “Simply hitting the water wrong can even be bad on a person.”

Should you find yourself possibly injured from a swimming or diving accident, immediate inspection by trained medical personnel is essential. “If you’re experiencing neck pain or headaches, seek a medical professional right away,” he said. “It’s also vital to check for symptoms of a spinal injury, which include tingling and numbness, and a sensation of feeling weak below the level of the injury.”

Grochmal goes on to caution against relying on non-medical personnel. “Even if you’re CPR trained, you shouldn’t do more to an injury victim than immediate and specific life-saving measures; you could otherwise cause more damage that could lead to paralysis or worse.”

Armed with this information from Dr. Grochmal, Woodlanders can hit the swimming pools and local lakes confident that they can avoid the pitfalls that could lead to substantial injury and lifelong trauma. Both Groshmal and Woodlands Online encourage safe swimming and diving practices this summer.