Triage Time: You say Hip Pointer, I say Contusion of the Iliac Crest-prominent Bone
October 21st, 2009 by Will Carroll
Quarterback Tony Pike, Cincinnati- Wrist
Pike (pictured left, thanks Icon SMI) and Cincinnati got some good news with the injury being diagnosed as a wrist sprain. The bad news is that this is the same wrist that was fractured last year and a plate had to be inserted at that time. Surgical hardware is not supposed to loosen, but some of the collisions in football are very similar to getting hit by a truck. Pike underwent a surgical procedure to tighten the plate on Tuesday morning, so he is not expected to see much, if any, playing time against Louisville this week and probably limited action again next week against Syracuse. He should be ready for the next Big East test against Connecticut the following week.
Running Back Toby Gerhart, Stanford- Ankle
Gerhart, the PAC-10’s leading rusher, suffered an ankle sprain against Arizona and is at best doubtful for this week’s game against Arizona State. The problem with an ankle sprain to a running back is that no matter how effectively it is taped or braced, the athlete is going to lose some of his ability to stop and start or change directions because these actions are going to stress the damaged ligaments. With an off-week following the Arizona State game, Gerhart’s ankle should have sufficient time to heal so that he can return at full strength against Oregon on November 7.
Quarterback Jake Locker, Washington- Back
Washington got lucky with the back injury to Locker being diagnosed as a muscle strain. You can be sure that the Washington medical staff will be busy this week with treatments to get Locker able to perform this week against Oregon. Like any other strain (injury to muscle or tendon) this one is measured in degrees for severity. It is highly likely that this is a 2 minus strain that should respond well enough to treatment to allow Locker to be efficient against the Ducks this week.
Quarterback Steven Sheffield, Texas Tech- Foot
Thank God for depth at the quarterback position with the Red Raider’s offensive scheme. Sheffield stepped in for Taylor Potts (out with a concussion) and had a good game leading his team to a win over Nebraska. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury that required surgery that will keep him totally out of action for at least two weeks and possibly more. Sheffield’s service allowed Potts time to recover and he will be back on the field filling the air with footballs against the A&M Aggies who have not shown a lot of ability to stop either the pass or the run this season.
Wide Receiver Riley Cooper, Florida- Hip
Cooper suffered a hip pointer (contusion of the iliac crest-prominent bone at the top anterior of the pelvis). There is not a lot of tissue in this area, making it very susceptible to injury from contact with a helmet or the turf. In sports medicine circles, the hip pointer is considered to be a self-limiting injury meaning basically when the athlete can perform with minimal pain, he can be cleared to return to full activity. The injury can be successfully padded which should allow Cooper to return this week against Mississippi State giving Tim Tebow his favorite receiver. Look for Cooper to have a big week as Florida looks to unleash their offense (which looked sub par against Arkansas last week) against the struggling Bulldogs.
Quarterback Jarrett Brown, West Virginia- Concussion
Brown suffered a concussion during the Marshall game last week and will not play this week against Connecticut. This is a smart decision by the Mountaineer medical staff not only because of the nature of this injury to the brain, but also because of Brown’s style of play as he runs the ball often. Without the speed of Pat White, Brown is more of a bruising runner and subject to taking some pretty big hits. Look for Brown to make a full recovery in time for the South Florida game the following week.
Running Back Bernard Pierce, Temple- Shoulder
Pierce suffered an A-C sprain (sprain of the ligament that connects the collarbone and shoulder blade) and is very doubtful for this week’s game against the Rockets of Toledo. Pierce is having a great year, being one of the top two freshmen in the country in rushing yards.
This injury will heal well and he will be able to return to full activity with the A-C joint well padded. The week of rest will be very beneficial to Pierce and he should have virtually no limitations upon his return to action the following week.
Quarterback Aaron Opelt, Toledo- Shoulder
Opelt suffered a significant contusion to his throwing shoulder two weeks ago. An MRI showed no structural damage and Opelt has responded well to treatment. Look for Opelt to either be the starter or play significant minutes against Temple this week. He should need no special padding and should be able to throw normally.
Quarterback Steven Garcia, South Carolina- Knee
Garcia took a big hit to the back of his knee last week against Alabama. Fortunately, there are no major structures in that part of the knee and Garcia has been diagnosed with a significant contusion to the area and should be able to start this week against Vandy. Garcia is not a major running threat, so the injury should not hamper him in any way, unless he gets hit in the same area again.
Wide Receiver Moe Brown, South Carolina- Concussion
A bigger blow to South Carolina’s Garcia than his own knee contusion is the loss for several weeks of Brown, his ace wide receiver. Brown suffered a hard hit in the Alabama game and had an extended period of unconsciousness which is never a good sign with a concussion. Look for Brown to miss a minimum of 2-3 weeks, to have an MRI and EEG, and to not be cleared to return to play until all symptoms of the concussion have disappeared.
Running Back Victor Anderson, Louisville- Leg
Anderson, the Cardinal’s leading rusher, suffered a significant contusion to his leg last week, but is listed as probable for this week’s clash with 5th ranked Cincinnati. While a contusion is a bruise, keep in mind the size and speed of the athlete’s contusing each other in a football game-mass times speed = force and that force can do a lot of bruising. Anderson is a tough kid and the Louisville athletic training staff will see that the area is sufficiently padded, so look for Anderson to be at almost full speed for this game.
Running Back Derrick Locke, Kentucky- Knee
Locke, who piled up over 120 yards in Kentucky’s victory over highly favored Auburn last week, suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and will be withheld this week against Louisiana Monroe. The MCL is the primary stabilizer of the inside of the knee joint. Locke’s sprain is mild (Grade 1) and he should be able to return within 2-3 weeks wearing a brace on the knee. MCL braces are not terribly cumbersome, so on his return, Locke should be able to run and make directional changes with minimal problems.
***Dr. William Carroll is the Director of Athletic Training Education and a Professor at the University of Mobile. His experience in professional and college athletic sports medicine goes back 40 years, which means he started when he was nine. Will Carroll, his son, has actually been doing this since birth, which gives him almost as much experience. ‘The Carroll Guide to Sports Injuries’ will be published in October.
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