Also known as: Neck injury
High school football player suffers cervical spine injury during scrimmage, requiring traction halo to realign spine. Father's aggressive coaching nearly causes catastrophic movement during procedure.
Also known as: Ovarian cancer
Chief's 18-year-old niece with recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer (originally diagnosed at age 14) who has undergone multiple surgeries, bilateral oophorectomy, and hysterectomy. Presents with airway obstruction from tumor mass and chooses to forgo further treatment to die at home.
Also known as: Breathing failure
Camille presents unable to breathe due to tumor mass obstructing her airway, requiring emergency cricothyrotomy to establish airway access.
Also known as: Broken ankle
28-year-old woman presents with severe ankle fracture from falling off StairMaster. Fracture severity reveals underlying malnutrition and osteoporosis from extreme dieting and overexercising. Dies during surgery from cardiac complications related to malnutrition.
Also known as: Undernourishment
Patient has severe malnutrition with low electrolytes, low calcium, and low vitamin D from extreme weight loss (40 pounds), excessive exercise, and inadequate nutrition. Underlying cause of her bone fragility and ultimate death.
Also known as: Stomach ulcer
Patient develops bleeding ulcer from chronic NSAID use (daily ibuprofen for exercise pain) combined with malnutrition. Begins vomiting blood pre-operatively and dies during emergency surgery when heart cannot tolerate the strain.
Also known as: Brittle bones
28-year-old with severe osteoporosis (typically seen in elderly women) causing catastrophic ankle fracture from minor trauma, secondary to malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency.