Surgeon Says Everett's Injury Is Life-Threatening and He's Unlikely to Walk Again

Kevin Everett, a reserve tight end for the Buffalo Bills, suffered a life-threatening spinal cord injury when he collided headfirst with a Denver Broncos ballcarrier while making a tackle on a kickoff during a game Sunday in Buffalo and is likely to be at least partially paralyzed, the orthopedic surgeon who performed Everett's four-hour operation said today.

Andrew Cappuccino, the Bills' orthopedist, called Everett's injury "catastrophic" and said the chances that the player would make a "full neurologic recovery" were "bleak, dismal." He said during a news conference in Orchard Park, N.Y., that Everett remained in a life-threatening situation because of the risks of infection, blood clots and breathing failure, although his chances were improved following his surgery.

"A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely," Cappuccino said. "I believe there will be some permanent" injury.

Everett, 25, remained sedated in the intensive care unit of a Buffalo hospital today. He was breathing through a respirator. Everett had feeling in his limbs and voluntary movement in his legs, doctors said. But they indicated it was too soon to know for certain whether Everett would walk again, saying an accurate prognosis could not be made for 48 to 72 hours.

Everett suffered a fracture between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae. There also was an injury to the spinal cord, doctors said, but the spinal cord was intact. During surgery, Cappuccino performed a bone graft, inserted a plate and four screws and relieved pressure on the spinal cord.

By Mark Maske |  September 10, 2007; 11:04 PM ET  | Category:  Bills
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