Kevin Everett sustained a “catastrophic” and life-threatening spinal-cord injury while trying to make a tackle in the Buffalo Bills’ season-opening loss to Denver and is unlikely to walk again, the surgeon who operated on him said yesterday.
“A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely,” orthopedic surgeon Andrew Cappuccino said. “I believe there will be some permanent neurologic deficit.”
Everett was hurt Sunday after he ducked his head while tackling the Denver Broncos’ Domenik Hixon on the second-half kickoff. Everett dropped face-first to the turf after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and side of the helmet.
Cappuccino noted that Everett, 25, a reserve tight end, did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett’s injury was life-threatening because he was still susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.
Everett is in the intensive care unit of Buffalo’s Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, where he is under sedation and breathing through a respirator as doctors wait for the swelling to lessen. Cappuccino said it will take up to three days to determine the severity of the injury and the recovery process.
post-gazette.com
From wire dispatches
