Also known as: Neck injury
Lindsay, a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and previous C1/C2 cervical fusion, falls in the shower causing her metal spinal hardware to break off. The broken instrumentation leads to spinal cord compression and paralysis, requiring emergency surgery with a 3D-printed coral and stem cell matrix to fuse her vertebrae.
Also known as: EDS
Lindsay has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that caused her atlanto-axial instability requiring the original spinal fusion. The condition also led to her developing an allergy to the metal hardware, complicating her treatment options.
Also known as: Blood clot in neck vein
Nola develops a blood clot around her jugular vein following her cardiac surgery, preventing blood from draining from her head. This requires emergency bedside incision and later return to the OR for repair of a leaking anastomosis.
Also known as: Breast lump
Tobey presents with nipple discharge and breast tenderness. Dr. Griffith discovers a suspicious mass during examination that appears malignant on ultrasound, requiring biopsy. The episode emphasizes early detection in a young professional woman with dense breast tissue.
Also known as: Going deaf
Luna undergoes BAER testing which reveals progressive hearing loss, a complication related to her premature birth. Jo is devastated by the diagnosis, struggling to process that Luna will require hearing aids and ongoing monitoring.
Also known as: IBD
Grayson is a bar mitzvah-aged patient recovering from bowel surgery with an ostomy, restricted to clear liquids. His hospitalization forces postponement of his bar mitzvah, which the hospital staff ultimately arranges to hold at Grey Sloan so he can celebrate with his great-grandfather.