Doctors successfully reattached the skull of Megan King, a woman from Illinois, to her spine following a tragic gym class accident that led to a near-fatal internal decapitation. The incident occurred when King, then 16 years old, fell during a soccer game, sustaining injuries to her ankle and spine, and tearing the muscle off both her shoulder blades.
As King underwent 22 surgeries, her condition worsened, prompting doctors to diagnose her with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome (hEDS), a genetic disorder affecting collagen production, causing joint instability. A year after diagnosis, King’s neck dislocated, necessitating the use of a restrictive “halo brace” with screws in her skull to prevent movement.
During the brace’s removal, King’s skull detached from her spine, resulting in the life-threatening internal decapitation, medically termed atlanto-occipital dislocation. Rushed into emergency surgery, doctors fused her skull to her spine to stabilize the critical condition.
Surviving the internal decapitation, which typically carries a high fatality rate due to potential nerve damage disrupting signals between the brain and body, King has undergone a total of 37 surgeries. Her body is now fused from the skull to the pelvis, rendering her head immobile in any direction.
Despite the challenges, King remains resilient, adapting to her new physical limitations. Internal decapitations, while rare and often fatal, are more prevalent in children due to undeveloped bones. King’s unique case, exacerbated by hEDS, underscores the complexities of such injuries.
Returning to her pre-accident hobbies, King recently enjoyed a bowling outing, achieving a strike on her first attempt. Her friends’ jubilation reflected not just the bowling success but also a celebration of her remarkable survival journey.
Embracing her transformed body and capabilities, King expressed determination in navigating life post-injury. Her story serves as a testament to human resilience and the capacity to overcome extraordinary challenges.