Neuro Doc: Patterson Might Escape Surgery
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Neuro Doc: Patterson Might Escape Surgery
Les Bowen
BETHLEHEM -- Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder confirmed a report by ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, that defensive tackle Mike Patterson's collapse yesterday was caused by an AVM, or arteriovenous malformation in his brain.
Burkholder emphasized that a treatment plan was still being formulated, and said he couldn't speculate on what will be required or when or whether Patterson will play again.
Patterson's agent, J.R. Rickert, disputed that the AVM finding was final, stating that Patterson was still being evaluated by "multiple doctors."
"Once we know the course of treatment and timetable for recovery, Mike and his wife Bianca will decide how to proceed," Rickert said in a statement.
Quite conveniently for your Eagletarian, a fan attending practice with a special sideline pass introduced me to another Eaglers enthusiast, wearing a DeSean Jackson jersey. That fellow is Dr. Nirav Shah, a Princeton neurosurgeon. Dr. Shah is not treating Patterson, but he does know a lot about brain AVMs.
"It's where an artery goes right into a vein, without an intervening capillary," Shah said. "It's congenital, not anything that would have been caused by playing football. Oftentimes what happens is, under certain conditions such as stress, dehydration, trauma, and whatnot, these things can tend to hemorrhage. The good thing is, it doesn't sound like he had a brain hemorrhage." (The Eagles said tests yesterday showed no bleeding on the brain.)
"One of the telltale signs is seizures," Shah said. "An angiogram is probably how they diagnosed it. The next part of that is looking at it and seeing if some glue can be placed in within the AVM itself, to stop that flow, or it can be surgically resected, depending on its location."
Traditional surgery, if needed, would require removing part of Patterson's skull. Radiation or "gamma knife" surgery would not, but that typically takes years to resolve the AVM.
"If the AVM is in a very eloquent location, such as the area that controls speech, you wouldn't want to go and operate" conventionally, Shah said. "That (gamma knife) would be a safer option. But the first-line treatment nowadays is actually an interventional technique, just like interventional cardiologists stent an artery, what we try to do is go in through a small blood vessel in the groin and attaxch coils or glue inside the AVM to help prevent it from growing."
Obviously a treatment like that probably would not threaten Patterson's season or career.
"We have a good chance to treat this and cure him of his problem," Shah said.
Apparently, many patients realize they have AVMs only when they experience seizures, as Patterson did on the field Wednesday, biting his tongue and flailing his arms. Patterson remains hospitalized at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Defensive tackle Trevor Laws, sidelined with a hip flexor, said he has texted with Patterson.
"He said he's feeling all right, just shocked, you know," Laws said. "He's done a bunch of hard workouts, a bunch of hard camps, and this is the first time this has ever happened. He's trying to get his head wrapped around it as much as anything else, at this point."
Laws said he thinks playing football "is probably the last thing on his mind. Football's one thing. Having your brain work right is a whole different story."
In one respect he is lucky. Some of the time, the first symptom is stroke leading to death or paralysis. His football career is over, though.— Armyofthe15Monkies- Do you know how to read? or are you an army of monkeys(you spelled it wrong btw)?
"Obviously a treatment like that probably would not threaten Patterson's season or career"
— sec719 - I didn't know that Les Bowen was a doctor. — jaxforprez
- absolutely, but the article is about a doctor stating that #98 will be ok (I hope!) — sec719
- Good luck, MP. Thoughts and prayers are with you.— Clt Philly Fan
Comment removed.- This monkey had AVM surgery and there is no way I would risk smashing my plate-repaired skull against football helmets. I'd be shocked if he played football again. Your life is worth more than the millions of dollars. — jaxforprez
- congratulations, but everyone and every case is different. just because you had the surgery doesn't make you an expert on it. we'll leave it to the doctors and mike patterson to decide if and when he plays. thanks for the info though.
- Where did I say I was an expert? I said I wouldn't play and I'd be shocked if he played again. Nowhere did I make an expert opinion on anything. — jaxforprez
- Agree it's an MD call but doesn't look like it would be a wise move from a laymans point. Glad he is stable. Great job by the Eagles medical and training staff. Prayers are with ya Big Mike.— flyers8a
- Comment removed.
- This is truly depressing. A mountain of consistency, this man, from the day he was drafted. I wish him the best and hope he is OK. Thoughts on his career can wait till I read an updated and thorough prognosis for his health and safety.
One extra person to pray for.— montgomeryhopkins - Good luck to him.Imagine how many other athletes avoided injuries/spells by not having to "work"/practice during the lockout.In that senario the lockout was good.— HO HUM
- No, his football career is not over. AVM can be addressed and rectified in most cases and people go on to lead very normal lives for a very long time. He probably will not be cleared to play until it is addressed and he's had time to heal. Unfortunately with the season right around the corner he could miss this year completely.— Mark1npt
- What's with all the "ESPN Reports" stuff? So if Sal Paolantonio doesn't report it, it doesn't happen? I can see the highlight ticker now....."ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Michael Vick was sacked for 10 yards...."— Mike Renn
