The elite athletes representing their countries at the Sochi Olympics are in peak physical shape and are at the top of their sport. However, accidents and injuries still occur, especially in potentially dangerous conditions and courses. On February 15, we saw an unfortunate example of this when Russian skicross racer Maria Komissarova fractured her 12th dorsal vertebra and dislocated her spine during a practice session. Fractures or breaks of vertebrae in the lower back can be very dangerous and possibly  lead to paralysis, if improperly handled. Spinal fractures often require a swift course of action from highly trained doctors.  Komissarova was carefully moved to a stretcher to be transported off of the mountain to the nearest hospital. In these cases, it’s imperative to immobilize the patient until a doctor can diagnose the problem. Komissarova was rushed to the hospital and underwent a six and a half hour surgery to repair her spine. A team of Russian specialists inserted a metal implant in her spine to stabilize it and hold the bones in place. A metal rod insert is a common surgical option when approaching spinal fractures.  Depending on the severity of the fracture and location, sometimes it is necessary to