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Doctors: Roethlisberger 'Up and out of bed'
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Doctors at Mercy Hospital said today that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was "up and around" and a source who visited Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette that he will be discharged tomorrow.
Roethlisberger remains in fair condition two days after he was involved in a motorcycle accident that caused numerous facial and head injuries. During a press briefing just after 5 p.m. today, Dr. Larry M. Jones, chief of the Division of Multi-System Trauma at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, said that a second CT scan confirmed previous findings that Roethlisberger has sustained no brain injury.
Doctors said that Roethlisberger's jaws are not wired shut and he is on a soft food diet, and will not "suffer nutritional consequences of a liquid diet," such as significant weight loss.
Roethlisberger broke portions of his upper and lower jaw, his nose, the orbital bone underneath his eye, damaged some teeth and suffered a mild concussion after the motorcycle he was operating slammed into the side of a car on Second Avenue at the 10th Street Bridge intersection Monday morning.
Roethlisberger has severe bruising and swelling in his face and neck area, but he has been speaking -- albeit softly and briefly -- to visitors. He was also fed soft foods such as yogurt and pudding today -- the first time he has been allowed to eat since the accident.
Dr. Daniel W. Pituch, chief of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Mercy, who was directly involved with the surgery Monday, said that the surgical team used "internal fixation technology" which involves the placement of small titanium plates and screws onto the surface of the broken bones in his jaws and face. The plates are one-and-a-half to two inches long and resemble hair barrettes. The titanium plates were carefully bent to match the contours of Roethlisberger facial bones, Pituch said.
"Small holes were drilled into the bones and small screws were carefully placed into these holes," Pituch explained. "In addition this technology allows us to have a more predictable outcome that usually does not require any additional major reconstructive procedures."
Dr. Jones said that the Roethlisberger family expressed their gratitude for well-wishes that have come from around the world. His family has been at his bedside throughout the ordeal.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First Published June 14, 2006 12:00 am
