Doctor on Crosby: No broken neck, rather a 'treatable' tissue injury
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Sidney Crosby walks to the podium to address members of the media during a press conference to update his status at the Consol Energy Center. -
Penguins general manager Ray Shero and Sidney Crosby speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Consol Energy Center. -
Penguins star Sidney Crosby skates during a practice in Florida earlier this month.
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Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby did not and does not have a broken neck, a specialist in Philadelphia reported to the team. He does have a soft tissue neck injury that is treatable. That, and not a concussion, could be causing his recurring problems with motion and balance.
"I hope so," Crosby said tonight.
"From what I've been told, it's something that's pretty commonly linked with concussion symptoms, this type of neck stuff. In a way that's pretty encouraging because when you're dealing with these symptoms there's no magic to get rid of them. If this is contributing to the symptoms, it's something we can treat and work on in the next little bit and, hopefully, see those go away."
PG VIDEOCrosby had been attributing those symptoms to a concussion he had last year. When those symptoms are gone, Crosby will be cleared to return to the lineup.
The specialist is Alexander Vaccaro, a spinal trauma expert at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and co-director of the Spinal Cord Center at Thomas Jefferson University. He is past president of the American Spinal Injury Association.
Crosby was seen last week by spinal neurologist Robert S. Bray in Los Angeles. In addition to tests, Bray treated Crosby with injections in his C1 and C2 vertebra to help with swelling. Bray will help oversee Crosby's progression.
General manager Ray Shero is encouraged about this latest news, considering Crosby has played in just eight games dating to Jan. 5, 2011, and tonight missed his 22nd game in a row as the Penguins are playing Toronto at Consol Energy Center.
"There's never been any indication with any doctor we've dealt with over the last year that he would have to shut it down for the season, would have to retire," Shero said.
"We're going to try to manage his symptoms, get them under control. We're going to get a handle on this and get him back on the ice safely and as quickly as possible -- but most importantly, safely."
First Published January 31, 2012 12:00 am
