~~debbydo~~
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 19951
Location: Hertfordshire
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| Tell a Friend Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:12 am Post subject: Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech head injury. |
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Epilepsy fears for Cech after skull fracture
Last updated at 14:54pm on 16th October 2006
The career of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech hung in the balance today after doctors warned of the long-term consequences of fracturing his skull.
Cech underwent emergency surgery in the early hours of yesterday morning after suffering a depressed fracture to the skull during a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt.
Cech was immediately taken to the Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading and was transferred late on Saturday night to the specialist neurosurgical unit at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford for an operation.
His wife Martina visited him in tears shortly before he was taken into the operating theatre.
Hospital sources said the surgery had gone well but were unable to speculate on the player's long-term prognosis.
Leading neurosurgeon John Firth estimated it would take at least six weeks for the fracture to heal and warned that the 24-year-old goalkeeper could suffer career-threatening side-effects such as epilepsy.
He said: "This was a life-threatening injury that seems to have been caught by vigilant action but could still have serious consequences. The first 10 days are critical because of a risk of infection.
"The first week is important because surgeons will be alert to the possibility of a seizure. A seizure during this time means there is a one-in-four chance of epilepsy in the future."
Questions are now being asked over the degree of protection given to goalkeepers during matches.
Chelsea's second keeper Carlo Cudicini, who replaced Cech, was also taken to hospital when he was left unconscious following a collision with Reading's Ibrahima Sonko.
Following the collision Cudicini swallowed his tongue and his face began to turn purple until medical staff managed to clear his airways.
He was later discharged and spent yesterday resting at home.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is urging the FA to take stiff disciplinary action against Hunt, who he accuses of deliberately injuring his player.
Mourinho said: "Hunt clearly flexed his knee to catch Petr. He dropped his knee. He didn't go with the foot to try and touch the ball. He went with his knee at the keeper's head.
"Afterwards he was laughing, and for me that was completely unbelievable."
However, Hunt said: "I just went for the ball and accidentally hit Cech."
Mourinho said Cech was lucky to be alive.
Souce Daily mail. |
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