Michigan State medical staff issues statement on allowing Alante Brown to return to action
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker and the Spartan medical staff have been a topic of conversation coming out of Week 1.
During the contest against Central Michigan, Alante Brown went down with a scary-looking injury and was carted off the field. Despite leaving the field on a board, Brown was reinserted into the game before eventually being sidelined after halftime.
Tucker addressed the incident at his weekly press conference and said player availability is a matter out of his hands. The head coach said the training staff handles those decisions on whether a player is good to go or not.
On Thursday, Dr. Jeff Kovan — MSU’s Director of Athletic Medicine — shared a statement on the situation. According to Kovan, the medical staff conducted a review of the matter and explained initial evaluations of Brown were negative for neck injury, neurological injury or concussion.
During the initial evaluation, isolated replay angles of the injury were not available. However, once received and examined, the training staff held Brown out for precautionary reasons.
“Initial on-field evaluation of Brown’s injury included a head and neck screen, which prompted spine boarding and precautionary removal to the tunnel. Per all reports, none of the athletic training staff or physician medical staff had direct vision of the injury when it occurred. Evaluation in the tunnel, while still on the spine board, was negative relative to a neck injury, neurological injury or concussion. Subsequent x-rays were performed in the stadium and were also negative. Repeat examination (for neck injury, neurological injury and concussion) after x-ray continued to be negative. Based on interviews, an isolated replay of the injury was not part of the initial sideline video review.
…
“At halftime, an additional detailed neurological and concussion examination remained negative. At that time, sports medicine staff were able to view the isolated television copy replay of the initial injury. Based on what was viewed, a decision was made to withhold Brown from further play despite continuing to have normal examination for precautionary reasons.”
Brown did have mild concussion symptoms the following morning of the injury and is progressing through the concussion protocol. The statement also said MSU will “expand our use of video access” in evaluating injuries and potential return-to-play decisions.
