Injured Football Player

Music in My Heart · Sep 12, 2007

Here's a link to an article I read a few minutes ago: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7216176

This is not standard EMS protocol but rather something begun by the team surgeon who was onsite and began the cold saline IVs immediately.

This is apparently the fastest the treatment has ever been begun because of the unique situation under which the injury occurred.

Regarding China, I don't think I would. I've seen the medical system in China working and it's freaking scary. One of the scariest parts is when the surgeon comes up and solicits a "tip" prior to beginning your surgery. Medical extortion is what I call it.

On the other hand, this place in Shenzen caters to wealthy people so it's probably much better than the stuff I saw.

bluwavyhat · Sep 12, 2007

I do not believe, and only allege that China's programs are unproven as yet, and we do not know at what cost political prisoners and the unborn have paid the ultimate price for their current knowledge. Research sanctioned and unsanctioned continues on in this area. I think hospitals in countries or place like Singapore, Malaysia or Cuba have a better track record in this area and will not offer any false hope. My geography or memory could be stale, but I think 60 Minutes had programs that reflected the outstanding level of care each place could offer. No, I would not put him on a plane to China.

:nono:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 13, 2007

more about hypothermia treatment: doctors try new treatment

icunurse42066 · Sep 13, 2007

This is a very tragic situation to say the least! My youngest son just started playing football, and my oldest wants to start playing again next year (he will be a junior in high school). The first thing that I have told both of them about this type of situation is to always keep your head up. If you watch the replay again, and I'm sure they'll keep playing it over and over, is right before he hit the other player, he ducked his head. Kevin Everett has several things in his favor, first, he is in tremendous physical condition, there were expert medical personnel on the scene and treated him properly and promptly, and the good Lord was watching out for him by his spinal cord not being severed. Both he and his family have a long road ahead of them, and the millions of prayers by not only Buffalo Bills fans, I am one myself, but also sports fans everywhere. THAT will be his best hope. Good luck Kevin, may God bless you!!!

EmmaG, RN · Sep 13, 2007

more about hypothermia treatment: doctors try new treatment

thanks for the link, but stuff like this makes me want to :banghead:

this time, a hollow tube called a catheter was inserted into the femoral vein in the leg near the groin, and cold saline was circulated through the veins but not put directly into the bloodstream.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Sep 13, 2007

That is pretty frustrating, but after listening to the update from the neurosurgeon yesterday, I can understand how there could be some media confusion on the technical/medical aspects of the case. Some of that stuff wasn't exactly put in layman's terms.

EmmaG, RN · Sep 20, 2007

"Soon ... they're going to stand him up," Dr. Barth Green told The Associated Press, shortly after discussing Everett's condition with Bills orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cappuccino. "They're very confident he'll be walking very soon ... in the next days or weeks, not months."

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/20/ap4141284.html

Amazing.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2007

My youngest son just started playing football, and my oldest wants to start playing again next year (he will be a junior in high school). The first thing that I have told both of them about this type of situation is to always keep your head up.

And sadly, the first thing the coaches and other players (older ones) will tell them it to tuck your head down. I've heard it over and over for so many years while coaching cheerleading on the field ajacent to the football field "tuck you head DOWN!!" "curl into a ball..head down" "head down!"

Hey, they say a lot of nursing is teaching. Maybe you could enlighten the football staff about the dangers of curling the head down. It will probably go in one ear and out the other for most of the coaches but maybe one will listen and understand the dangers and change his ways.

rdnkjdi · Sep 21, 2007

Hey, they say a lot of nursing is teaching. Maybe you could enlighten the football staff about the dangers of curling the head down. It will probably go in one ear and out the other for most of the coaches but maybe one will listen and understand the dangers and change his ways.

Ummm....doesn't curling in and lowering the head have more to do with protecting the football than avoiding injury? I seriously doubt pro football is going to choose player safety over pigskin safety

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Sep 21, 2007

Hey, they say a lot of nursing is teaching. Maybe you could enlighten the football staff about the dangers of curling the head down. It will probably go in one ear and out the other for most of the coaches but maybe one will listen and understand the dangers and change his ways.
Ummm....doesn't curling in and lowering the head have more to do with protecting the football than avoiding injury? I seriously doubt pro football is going to choose player safety over pigskin safety

Coaches that know what they are talking about encourage head up, not head down. I think they also understand that career-ending (and possibly life-ending) injuries to their players are not going to lead to a winning season.

"The best way is to keep your head up, see what you hit and hit with your shoulder," says Tony Dungy, head coach for the Indianapolis Colts. "It really doesn't matter what position you play or where you are on the field. The object of the collisions is to deliver a blow and come out of it in great shape."

rdnkjdi · Sep 21, 2007

Coaches that know what they are talking about encourage head up, not head down. I think they also understand that career-ending (and possibly life-ending) injuries to their players are not going to lead to a winning season.

Interesting. Welp, guess I was wrong. Still, it seems to me that hitting w your shoulder instead of curling up would leave the ball exposed.

Zookeeper3 · Sep 21, 2007

I do not believe, and only allege that China's programs are unproven as yet, and we do not know at what cost political prisoners and the unborn have paid the ultimate price for their current knowledge. Research sanctioned and unsanctioned continues on in this area. I think hospitals in countries or place like Singapore, Malaysia or Cuba have a better track record in this area and will not offer any false hope. My geography or memory could be stale, but I think 60 Minutes had programs that reflected the outstanding level of care each place could offer. No, I would not put him on a plane to China.

One, bills fan here! two, our neurologist is skilled in Asian ways with non traditional medicine, accupuncture, herbs and other remidies. This doc, way back in 96 had us ice all codes an decrease the metabolic processes and decrease intracranial swelling, same with the spinal cord, serum osmo q4, with mannitol and lasix, than he'd use accupuncture to increase blood supply to specific regions.

This doc, who was fully US credentialed to the hilt, head of the neurology and med etihics bit, had the BEST long term outcomes.

It's not about a standard or level of care it's about care period. to hear that this is still investigational is laughable to me, it's a mainstay in our practice with cooling. I don't care about the studies or lack there of, I've seen the responses.

Although the bills player is in a neuro unit, I can assure you this is not the best place to be as the area is backwards. Won't eleaborate more, but options are out there at other facilities which would help him further. saying no more and wishing the speediest recovery.