Just getting over a T1 - T5 spinal fusion after a compression fracture that also broke my sternum. I had a Troy Lee Stage helmet on and no neck brace, though I do own one. I don't know if it would have helped in this situation however, as the break was from the initial straight-on impact on top of the head, not from the rolling action after. I have a lot of thoughts now that it's been about 6 months since the accident.
1) I don't think the full face trail helmets are all they're cracked up to be. Yes, they're better than a half lid for protecting your teeth and orbital bones. But they may give a false sense of confidence to make you ride faster than you should in them, or you may want to grab one on a hot shuttle or bike park day like I did. I believe we should all be reaching for full DH-rated full faces much more often that we think we should. Unless you're really riding a long, gentle, pedal trail, a DH-rated full face should be the move. I think a better helmet may have reduced the compression forces on my neck and lessened the impact, and maybe I may not have needed surgery. I think helmet companies should continue to invest in creating pedalable DH helmets, not trail helmets with a chin bar.
2) I don't know if a neck brace would have saved me from this specific injury, but it may have. It's hard to say. I didn't wear mine that day because it isn't comfortable and seems to interfere with my full face, limiting my range of motion. But guess what? My range of motion is now permanently limited since I had the back surgery. I would rather have a temporary range of motion while riding than a permanent one every day. I'd say if you're on the fence about a neck brace, get one and wear it.
3) We should support companies like Leatt and Atlas so they can further the neck brace research. Atlas just released what I see as a groundbreaking brace, the Vision: https://atlasbrace.com/products/vision?srsltid=AfmBOopk6GnV9Emw1oCzw7TM_p16106v5aEi4MKo1L0ADznC9f3F_aR0 It is minimalistic, only really protecting the extremes in crashes, focused on compression. I bought one as soon as I started riding again, as to me it's a good compromise of range of motion, comfort, and protection. I'll admit, even with my opinion on neck braces, it's still hard to get myself to wear a full one on a trail ride. But this new vision? It's kind of a set and forget from what I've experienced. I'll update as I ride more if that opinion changes.
4) Spine and Chest protectors are great, but they really don't save you from a compression or extension style break from an impact. I still think they should be worn, especially for being saved from puncture wounds from branches and sticks or from breaking ribs when impacting something on the back. But they don't replace a neck brace.
5) If you live in a country without universal healthcare (the US for me) you should get accident insurance. I signed up for mine literally days before my accident, and it has paid me over $5,500 for medical expenses. My out of pocket max was luckily low at $3,500, but the ambulance wasn't covered in that (a WTF conversation for anther day), so it's really helped me and my family stay on top of expenses. It is about $12/month if I remember right. A huge return on investment there for someone who is pretty consistently injuring himself doing this stupid sport we all can't stop doing.
6) I walked out of the woods after my crash, even knowing I had likely broken my back. I really should have called search and rescue, as I could have messed up my spinal cord in that mile (1.609 KM for the Canucks). All the medical professionals I talk to about it now tell me that was a silly move. I didn't want to get the illegal loamer shut down, which is why I walked. And S&R is crazy expensive in the US. But being paralyzed would have been a far worse consequence than a little trail getting shut down and having to pay a big bill down for the next couple years.
Anyway, there's plenty more I could talk about, but I should probably do my actual job for a bit today, ha. Happy to answer any questions or rebuttals though.
