Vicenza medical staff believe Nicolò Brighenti might be the first football player to sustain a lacerated pancreas during a match.
The 26-year-old defender was accidentally kneed in the stomach by his own goalkeeper Mauro Vigorito during a Serie B game against Como.
“He continued to feel pain in his stomach and asked to be substituted,” doctor Giovanni Ragazzi told gianlucadimarzio.com.
Vicenza medical staff believe Nicolò Brighenti might be the first football player to sustain a lacerated pancreas during a match.
The 26-year-old defender was accidentally kneed in the stomach by his own goalkeeper Mauro Vigorito during a Serie B game against Como.
“He continued to feel pain in his stomach and asked to be substituted,” doctor Giovanni Ragazzi told gianlucadimarzio.com.
“He was stabilised in the infirmary and then at the end of the first half we took another look at him. He was taken to A&E in Vicenza and a quick scan showed some blood, but not the real origin of the problem.
“Another TAC scan was performed and that highlighted a lacerated pancreas. It’s a very deep organ situated close to the spinal cord. Essentially, the knee crushed the pancreas against the vertebra.
“The surgeon evaluated the situation and decided an operation was necessary. The player went into surgery late last night and emerged at 5am.
“Now we are moderately confident, but have to see how the situation evolves. The prognosis can only really be given in four or five days.
“It is an extremely rare injury. I’ve been a medic for over 40 years and have no memory of patients with a lacerated pancreas. As for football players, I can’t think of one case in the world.
“The surgeon in Vicenza told me he’d only performed this operation once before, many years ago on a girl who was in a motorbike accident.
“Can he return to playing football? In theory yes, we’ll see how long it takes. Clearly we have to wait for the next few days.”