Thorburn’s Position

Thorburn’s Position or Thorburn’s Reflex is a nerve reaction due to an injury of the cervical spinal nerve 6 level. It is named after Sir William Thorburn, a British surgeon.

History

William Thorburn worked to heal spinal injuries in 1886, noting the position of the arms after a cervical spina injury. These were common in the manufacturing cities of north England. Later yet, president John “Jack” Fitzgerald Kennedy became famous for exhibiting Thorburn’s Position when he was shot in the neck by Lee Harvey Oswald.

Medical Description

When the C6 level of the spinal cord is hit, nerves are damaged. The brain interprets this as a signal to raise the arms with thumbs parallel to the ground. Now, the victim is paralyzed. Unfortunately, there is no known way to cure this position as of December 2023.

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20377895#:~:text=There%27s%20no%20way%20to%20reverse,after%20a%20spinal%20cord%20injury.

“The President Has Been Shot!” Book by James L. Swanson

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Peculiar-position-assumed-by-the-elbows-immediately-after-an-injury-at-the-level-of-C6_fig4_359128636

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