Jason Derulo Breaks Neck

R & B singer Jason Derulo is known almost as much for his dance moves as for his singing.

But rehearsing an acrobatic dance move in preparation for his upcoming Future History World Tour landed the 22-year old singer in a Pembroke Pines, FL hospital!

Derulo, known for hits such as In My Head, It Girl, and I Don’t Wanna Go Home, landed on his head and sustained a fracture to one of the vertebrae in his neck. Fortunately, he did not have any spinal cord damage, but must wear a neck brace for the next several months.

This has caused Derulo to cancel his tour. Warner Bros. reportedly released a press release in which Derulo wrote:

To all my fans who planned to come to the Future History World tour, the pain of letting you down cuts me way deeper than this injury I’ve sustained. My fans mean everything to me, so I’m praying for a speedy recovery in order to perform for you in the near future.

Here’s Jason showing off some of his moves:

“The best lightning rod for your protection is your own spine.”: Ralph Waldo Emerson

The spine of the neck consists of 7 cervical vertebrae - the bony structures that supports the head and protect the spinal cord that passes through them. Between the vertebrae are cushions made of cartilage, called the intervertebral discs,which keep the spine flexible and act as shock absorbers. Strong fibrous tissue, called ligaments and bony protrusions of the vertebrae called facets further stabilize the spine. The spinal nerves pass through a second space, called foramen, between the vertebrae on each side of the spine, out to the neck and upper body.

“A hole is nothing at all, but you can break your neck in it”: Austin O’Malley

A “broken neck” is a break in one or more of the cervical bones (vertebrae in the neck).
A neck fracture is very serious and can lead to paralysis or possibly death. A person with a neck injury should not be moved without competent medical care, which is needed immediately.
It is important to recognize the possibility of a neck fracture. Injuries severe enough to cause head injury or other trauma often also cause neck fracture.

A neck fracture is caused by severe trauma to the neck. Trauma includes:

• Falls , such as from a horse or bike
• Collisions, such as motorcycle or automobile
• Diving into shallow water
• Severe and sudden twist to the neck
• Severe blows to the head or neck area

Symptoms include:

• Pain, which may or may not be severe
• Swelling and bruising
• Tenderness
• Decreased feeling in the arms or legs
• Muscle weakness or paralysis of the arms or legs

Treatment depends on the severity of the fracture, which cervical bones are broken, and whether there is an associated dislocation or instability. It is also dependent on whether there is spinal cord or nerve injury, muscle weakness or paralysis.

Treatment includes:

• Immobilization: When there is a possibility of a broken neck, complete immobilization of the neck area is necessary. For athletes, it is recommended to keep the helmet and shoulder pads on while immobilizing the spine.
• Brace or Collar: A less serious neck fracture can be treated with a cervical brace or collar. It will need to be worn until the neck completely heals, usually 8 to 12 weeks. The doctor may recommend medications to reduce pain and swelling.
• Surgery: For a more severe fracture, you may need surgery to realign the bones. Your neck may be placed in traction prior to surgery. A metal plate with screws, or other methods of fixation, may be used to help hold the bones in place.

Sounds like Jason Derulo is a lucky man- he sustained a serious injury, but avoided the most severe consequences!

We wish him a speedy recovery.