Michael Schumacher is a world famous retired Formula One Indy Car racing champion. During the recent holiday week, Schumacher again made headlines, but not because of successes in the racing world. While skiing in the French Alps on the weekend after Christmas, Schumacher crashed and was hospitalized with a serious traumatic brain injury (TBI).
On January 1st, NBC News reported that Schumacher was stable overnight but remained in critical condition, based on a statement given by his manager, Sabine Kehm. The 44-year-old man is originally from Germany. His condition had not changed since doctors reported he had displayed small signs of improvement last Tuesday.
Ex-Formula One Driver Remains in Very Early Stages of Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery
“The good news for today is … there’s no significant changes,” Kehm informed reporters who had gathered outside the hospital in Grenoble, France, where Schumacher is being treated. “However, it is still very early, and the situation overall is critical.”
In an earlier statement, Kehm stated he believed Schumacher may have hit an unseen stone while turning through a blind a corner in the French Alps. Striking the smaller stone apparently knocked Schumacher’s legs out from underneath him, catapulting him down onto a lower rock.
Formula One’s greatest champion is still in a critical condition doctors noted last week, but a second surgery on his brain did lead to a slight improvement.
“That is extremely and very unfortunate … really very, very bad luck,” Kehm noted. “Michael was not at high speed.” Kehm also said Schumacher has been surrounded by his family around the clock. “They are trying to support him by being by his side,” Kehm said. The seven-time Formula One champion underwent two brain surgeries and remains in a medically induced coma.
Doctors have held off from giving a prognosis for Schumacher. They indicated it is still too early to tell and keeping Schumacher stable is the first priority. Neurologists are still working to reduce swelling in the brain by keeping him in a coma and lowering his body temperature to between 93.2 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dr. Jean-Francois Payen, the doctor in charge of Grenoble University Hospital’s intensive care unit, told a press conference:
“We can’t say he is out of danger but … we have gained a bit of time.”
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver in Formula One history. He recorded a career total of 91 race wins and seven world titles before he retired last year.
Sports-Related and Recreational Brain Injuries
Statistically, sports like football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and cheer leading are responsible for the highest occurrences of traumatic brain injury. According to AANS data, the top 10 sports and recreation activities with traumatic brain injury risks are as follows – including the figures across all age groups age 8 and above.
- Cycling
- Football
- Baseball and Softball
- Basketball
- Skateboards/Scooters
- Water Sports
- Soccer
- Powered Recreational Vehicles
- Winter Sports
- Trampolines
References:
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) – Sports Related Head Injury
