Hundreds of National Football League players sustain injuries of all kinds every year, and the 2022-23 season was no different. There were countless tackles, stumbles and throws gone wrong. And, on Dec. 2, the intensity and risk of the game was on full display when Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a hit in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In a chilling scene broadcast on national television, Hamlin, completely immobile, received CPR on the ground and was later taken to hospital.
In addition to “routine” sports injuries and Hamlin’s horrific experience, the season also included dozens of players suffering concussions.
For years, former players, doctors and neurology experts have been pushing the League to implement more player support to prevent concussions. Although progress has been made, including the addition in 2012 of independent neurological evaluators on the sidelines on game day, in the 2022-23 season more than 135 players suffered concussions.
The Three Shots of Tagovailoa
While many players appear to be bouncing back from minor head injuries after a short stretch, other players, like Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, are suffering from serious injuries and need immediate treatment but continue to play, unaware of future dangers.
Since September, the 24-year-old has suffered more than one intense blow to the head, forcing fans and the medical community to scrutinize the actions of NFL officials.
First, on September 25 (Week 3 of the regular season), in the second quarter of the Miami-Dolphins-Buffalo Bills game, Tagovailoa suffered a powerful blow after being forced to the ground by linebacker Matt Milano. Although he stumbled and struggled before advancing, he was allowed to continue playing.
The decision by medical staff and team managers to allow Tagovailoa to return to Bills play, despite his apparent struggle, sparked serious concern from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), which immediately launched an investigation. .
However, before the investigation was complete – just four nights after the first injury – Tagovailoa was hurt again, this time by a sack from Josh Tupou, a defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals. Unable to walk, Tagovailoa was removed from the field on a stretcher and taken to an area hospital.
A firestorm of criticism against Tagovailoa’s management erupted, and within weeks the League embraced the criticism by changing its official policy, known as the NFL’s “Concussion Protocol.”
In the amendment, officials added the term “ataxia” as part of the “mandatory ban” symptoms.
Ataxia is defined as “the abnormality of balance and stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological problem”. If a player shows signs of ataxia during concussion protocol, they will not be allowed to return to play and will “receive follow-up care” mandated by league protocol.
The difficulty of reaching a concussion diagnosis
Tagovailoa, who was placed on the injury disabled list for several weeks, unfortunately suffered another blow to the head in his return against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day.
His head was hit from behind when he was sacked as he attempted to pass the ball to another teammate.
Unlike the game with the Buffalo Bills, this time he showed no signs of head trauma, no imbalance, and no difficulty getting up and walking (though he only threw interceptions for the rest of the game. ). However, the following day, Tagovailoa reported symptoms of a head injury and was placed under league-mandated observation.
In response, on December 31, a joint statement between the NFL and the NFL Players Union was released which stated, “After reviewing the film of the game and the specific play that injured the quarterback, it is not there was no reason for him to be removed from play. Symptoms of a concussion were neither manifested nor reported until the next day when team medical staff properly assessed and placed M Tagovailoa in concussion protocol.
While the signs of a concussion – headaches, sluggishness or even the opposite, insomnia – can take time to appear. Players and fans are right to be worried. As history has shown, time and time again players often play the game with a serious undiagnosed head injury.
Dr. Uzma Samadani is a neurosurgeon who was a neurotrauma consultant assigned to the Minnesota Vikings games for four years. He is also a developer of an eye-tracking device to more definitively diagnose concussions. In an article for The New York Times, Samadani said, “Is it possible to make an objective assessment of the total brain function capacity of someone on the sidelines so quickly? It’s very difficult.”
As tools are created to identify concussions more quickly, including a blood test that can measure certain proteins that show up quickly in cases of brain hemorrhage, players need to recognize that they may need to retire from the game. Or, help a teammate out of play when a hard hit to the head occurs like Nelson Agholor did in a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
On December 12, New England patriot Devante Parker suffered a head injury when Arizona cornerback Antonio Hamilton tackled him. Although he struggled to get up, none of the medical staff on site quickly recognized him. It took Agholor, another Patriot, to wave his arms and call the referees before Parker, who was quickly diagnosed with a concussion, was taken off the field.
So what if you suspect a head injury?
It doesn’t matter if you’re an NFL football player or a victim of a car accident, remember that a head injury may seem like something else or benign at first, but it can get worse. worsen over time. In case of injury, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. Any type of concussion should be evaluated. In addition to medical treatment, if a head injury is poorly managed or caused by someone else’s negligence, seek legal advice to determine the best course of action for what may be a difficult road to travel.