The 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive tackle for the Scarlet Knights collapsed on the field after tackling an opponent during the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against Army at New Meadowlands Stadium.
Mel Evans, AP
Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand is treated on the field after colliding with Army's Malcolm Brown as he tried to make the tackle during the second half of a football game Saturday.
Doctors are still unsure just how severe, or permanent, the injury is. But the site of LeGrand's injury, and anecdotal evidence from patients before him, suggests that he faces an uphill journey toward recuperation.
LeGrand's spinal cord is damaged at the C-3 and C-4 level of the vertebrae. Those areas are responsible for control of the body's upper body musculature, including shoulders and biceps, and diaphragm.
"If it is a permanent injury, it's too early to say right now. Miracles can happen," Dr. Mark McLaughlin, medical director at Princeton Brain and Spine Care, told The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. Whether LeGrand walks again likely depends "on whether the spinal cord has been bruised or severed, and how badly," McLaughlin added.
Treatment for patients in LeGrand's situation often includes increasing the body's blood-pressure levels, to promote blood flow to the injured area, along with maintaining optimal oxygen levels. With a compromised diaphragm, it's impossible for LeGrand's body to do that independently.
Doctors will be doing MRI tests and CT scans, along with other diagnostic evaluations, to determine the extent of the damage.
If LeGrand's injury is deemed "complete," meaning a loss of motor and sensory function, the odds of restoring function are nearly nil: An estimated 5 percent of such patients ever recover.
In addition to quadriplegia, C3 injuries often necessitate lifelong use of a ventilator for breathing.
A patient who shows preliminary signs of sensation or movement within a week has the best chance of making significant progress toward recovery. LeGrand's family and teammates are cautiously optimistic that the star player will walk again.
"As I talked to our team, we are going to believe that Eric is going to walk onto that field again," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano told reporters. He called LeGrand "a fighter."
LeGrand's injury also offers a stark reminder of football's extreme dangers. An estimated 1 in 100,000 high school players sustains serious spinal cord injuries each year, according to Gridiron Heroes, an organization established to offer resources for injured athletes.
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And the financial toll of the injuries can be jarring: The first 100 days of treatment cost $150,000 to $500,000.For now, family, teammates and fans anxiously await any news of progress this week.
And it has made even LeGrand's former high school football coach reconsider his own role in the sport.
"I've been doing this a long time, and you see stuff happen that's part of football," Ben LaSala, coach at Colonia High, told The Star-Ledger. "I've had somebody tell me to be positive, and I'm a positive guy. But this is like a punch to the face. I can't tell you how I'm going to go out and coach."
