Ace the Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) Exam 2025 - Dive Into Action and Heal with Confidence!

A hyperextension mechanism typically occurs when the neck is forcibly extended backward, which can lead to a whiplash injury. This type of injury can indeed result in damage to the spinal cord. The hyperextension can stretch and potentially tear the ligaments and soft tissues in the cervical spine, as well as lead to the compression of nerve roots or the spinal cord itself.

Whiplash injuries are common in motor vehicle accidents and can cause significant pain and dysfunction in the immediate aftermath and even long-term consequences. The mechanism of injury is crucial; hyperextension can result in the biomechanical movement that is conducive to both soft tissue damage and neurological deficits if the spinal cord is involved.

While fractures, concussions, and dislocations may also cause serious injuries, they typically arise from different mechanisms and do not specifically describe the hyperextension scenario in the same way that a whiplash injury does.