Bills' Kevin Everett in surgery

[markvid]

Bills player in emergency surgery for cervical injury.
Just announced on NBC, I'll post more when i get a link.

 

[Pancamo]

I was watching this on Sunday Ticket and knew it was bad right away. He fell straight to the ground after the hit and his arm was twitching. Very scary. Hope the surgery is a success.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

They talked about it on Fox's postgame show about an hour ago. They don't know if there will be an update on his condition tonight.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I was watching this on Sunday Ticket and knew it was bad right away. He fell straight to the ground after the hit and his arm was twitching. Very scary. Hope the surgery is a success.

Unfortunately, I saw this live as well. Scary stuff. Worse when no cameras were catching any movements, then complete with the Bills holding an impromptu prayer session en masse on the middle of the field (and please folks ... I'm not religious, just telling you what I saw).

 

[shockey]

i would imagine he'll be in surgery all night, so i wouldn't imagine there would be updates until tomorrow. :( :( :(

 

[Matt1735]

From the Buffalo News:

Everett lay motionless on the turf at Ralph Wilson Stadium for 15 minutes after making the tackle on the opening kickoff of the second half. Everett, a second-stringer in his third season with the Bills, went down after driving his head into the ball carrier, Denver's Domenik Hixon.

An ambulance wheeled Everett off the field and took him to Buffalo's Millard Fillmore Hospital at Gates Circle. Aside from movement in his eyes, he had no movement in his body as he was taken off the field. The Bills reported he was in surgery Sunday evening.

 

[Write-brained]

From the Buffalo News:
... Aside from movement in his eyes, he had no movement in his body as he was taken off the field.

Oh my God.

 

[cougargirl]

Just saw on ESPN that Kevin Everett may have incomplete paralysis.

 

[markvid]

Just saw on ESPN that Kevin Everett may have incomplete paralysis.

What does incomplete mean? Not neck down?

 

[JayFarrar]

I'm surprised that this doesn't happen more. And tomorrow the thread will be RIP Kevin Everett

 

[cougargirl]

Just saw on ESPN that Kevin Everett may have incomplete paralysis.

What does incomplete mean? Not neck down?

Essentially, it's swelling around the spinal cord - a form of shock that causes paralysis. Once the swelling subsides (and that can take at least a month), the severity of injuries or lack thereof can be better determined.

 

[markvid]

I'm surprised that this doesn't happen more. And tomorrow the thread will be RIP Kevin Everett

He won't die.

 

[MileHigh]

I was in packed sports bar watching the game today and it went completely quiet as he was worked on.

 

[slappy4428]

I'm surprised that this doesn't happen more. And tomorrow the thread will be RIP Kevin Everett

He won't die.

Dont even want to think it

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Agent says Everett has 'sparse movement' after a lengthy surgery that included removal of bone chips.

Prayers go out to the young man.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012007

 

[Chef]

Someone said dislocated neck.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Awful. Hoping for the best . . .

 

[Colton]

So sad... frightening to see.

 

[DocTalk]

Just saw on ESPN that Kevin Everett may have incomplete paralysis.

What does incomplete mean? Not neck down?

Essentially, it's swelling around the spinal cord - a form of shock that causes paralysis. Once the swelling subsides (and that can take at least a month), the severity of injuries or lack thereof can be better determined.

Spinal cord injuries may take awhile to determine what he final outcome as to function might be, depending upon the injury and surgery. Fractures of the vertebrae (the bones) can be displaced or nondisplaced (dislocated) and that may determine how much room in the spinal canal exists for the spinal cord. The less room, the more chance of the sord to be pinched or have room to swell. Verterbal bodies can also burst, with pieces of bone entering and damaging the cord.

In spinal cord injuries, the porgnosis and progress is measured in how many levels of function are saved or recovered. If the injury is above the 4th cervical vertebra, breathing becomes difficult, because that is the level from where nerves that ennervate the breathing muscles arise. At the level of C5 and T1 (between the 7th cervical vertebra and the 1st thoracic) all function in the arms is maintained, so each level up or down will decide shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand function.

Neck injuries are never good and emergency surgery is not necessarily a positive step. A terrible injury and I hope Mr. Everett beats the odds.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

One neck injury is too many, but it nevertheless amazes me how few serious ones there have been in both the NFL and college overall, especially considering how big and fast the players have become over the years.

One of the things that has always stuck with me from covering an NFL locker room is the big sign each one has near the door that says SEE WHAT YOU HIT. I guess that's one of the big keys to staying safe.