Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Spectacular Catch... Horrific Collision

DPT Community,

Last night I sat in horror watching the evening news as Rick Ankiel, former phemon pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals turned major league outfielder, collided head first into the center field wall making a spectacular catch. Watch the clip and you can see the mechanism of injury for cervical spine injuries that lead to catastrophic injuries for athletes. As of this morning, the radiographic evidence supports that Rick has not suffered a fracture and the early signs are positive that he will recover. Keep Rick in your thoughts and prayers.

I have spent many hours on the sidelines of sporting events. I have witnessed many injuries and led the triage of many injured athletes. From fracture wrists in soccer matches to neck injuries from collisions in football. I have managed athletes with concussions and severe knee injuries. I have evaluated fractured clavicles under shoulder pads. I have cleansed countless wounds and stopped blood from flowing from open lacerations. As I reflect upon the last 20 years of dealing with athletic injuries during competition, the one constant is how time stands still for me. When the event is happening, my training goes into effect and the world seems to slow down for me. I have stabilized many cervical spines with the goal to minimize further damage, and I have hoped and prayed that the injury that I am managing is not catastrophic for the athlete. For those of you wanting to further your careers in the sports realm, emergency preparedness is a must!

slesh