Jun 14, 2006 4:30 pm US/Eastern
Roethlisberger's Recovery Progressing Well
The Steelers quarterback could get out of the hospital by the weekend
Big Ben is now listed in fair condition at Mercy Hospital
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
-
-
Dr. Larry Jones, Mercy Hospital
KDKA
The Steeler Nation spent much of Monday holding its breath while a team of surgeons operated on QB Ben Roethlisberger; but late yesterday, fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as doctors upgraded him to fair condition.
During an afternoon news conference Tuesday afternoon, doctors at Mercy Hospital described some of his injuries.
"He is awake. He is alert. He is oriented and he is resting with his family at his side," said Dr. Larry Jones, Mercy's Chief of Trauma.
He suffered a fractured upper and lower jaw, a fractured nose, as well as other facial fractures and head lacerations.
But there is no evidence of any major structural damage to his knees and perhaps more importantly, he suffered no injury to his brain.
"It means that he's been incredibly lucky. He could have been killed - he could have been paralyzed," said Dr. Tom Franz, a brain injury specialist.
Dr. Franz has seen plenty of those worst case scenarios from head injuries while working at Health South Harmarville Rehabilitation.
Hopefully, Roethlisberger won't be among those who have residual problems.
"In some people with concussions, vertigo, balance disorders can occur - and it may be some weeks before we know about, those kinds of things," Franz told KDKA.
But he says given what we do know about Ben's condition, he thinks the odds are in his favor, but we'll have to wait and see.
Dr. Franz hopes that Ben might consider in the future becoming a role model for protective safety equipment off the field.
The say he could get out of the hospital withing the next three to five days.
Doctors at Mercy Hospital are expected to have another update on Ben's condition sometime later today.
Stay with KDKA for the latest developments
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Latest Update From Mercy Hospital
Click to enlarge
Judge Orders Renegotiation Of 9/11 Settlement 18 mins ago
Stumble It!
Comments