Searching for answers about concussions

By DAVE SCHEIBER, Times Staff Writer
Published June 20, 2007

CHICAGO - NFL team doctors and trainers, along with leading medical experts in the field of mild-traumatic brain injury, huddled Tuesday in Chicago at the invitation of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss ways of improving concussion management.

Goodell disputed recent findings by one Pittsburgh-based doctor that repeated concussions contributed to the deaths of four former NFL players, and sounded a positive note at the intensive one-day meeting at the O'Hare Westin Hotel.

"We have a number of people here bringing different perspectives that I think will help us improve the care for our players, and their safety and health, long term, " he said at a news conference in between closed-door sessions of some 250 attendees, including several NFL Player Representatives. "We're excited about what we'll get from today and continue to advance science and medical technology in this area."

The league will require players to have baseline neuropsychological testing starting this season and institute a "whistleblower" program that allows anyone to report when doctors are pressured to clear players or when players are pressured to play.

Goodell praised the work of team doctors in assessing whether a player should return to the field after sustaining a concussions.

"Our doctors are making excellent decisions, " he said. "That's proven by the six-year study that we have and the research that's been done, which looks at that issue intensively. Again, we're continuing to learn in this area, so if we can make better decisions going forward we'll certainly try to do that."

The issue has gained heightened attention in the wake of claims by Dr. Bennet Omalu, who studied the brains of late players. Omalu maintains that concussions contributed to severe brain abnormalities, depression and signs of dementia in the deaths of three ex-Steelers - center Mike Webster, lineman Terry Long and lineman Justin Strzelczyk - and former Eagles safety Andre Waters. Waters and Long committed suicide, Strzelczyk was killed in a car crash and Webster died of a heart attack.

Goodell took issue with Omalu's conclusions. "I'm not a doctor, but you have to look at their entire medical history, " he said. "To look at something that is isolated without looking at their entire medical history, I think is irresponsible.'

"We have gone out and sought independent and high-quality doctors to be able to give us advice in this area, " he continued. "... We want to find out exactly what is happening with our players, both current and former, and making sure that we are providing the best possible care."

Goodell also stressed that the league did not just begin studying the issue. "We've had this committee for 14 years and we have done terrific work, and our doctors and scientists have been working at this digilently."

Omalu was not invited to the meeting and his conclusions were not shared by a number of doctors in attendance, including Dr. Ira Casson, who co-chaired the NFL's independent committee on the issue. "In my opinion, the only valid evidence of a chronic encephalopathy in athletes is in boxers and steeple chase jockeys, " Casson said. "It has never been scientifically documented in any other athletes."

Some others in attendance, such as Dr. Robert Cantu, chief of neurosurgery at Emerson Hospital near Boston, disagree with Dr. Casson on the long-term effects of multiple concussions. But there seemed to be unanimity that the meeting - stemming from concussion care recommendations presented at the NFL's recent spring meeting - was an important step in the on-going learning process.

"You're seeing some great scientists, some great doctors that have done some terrific work in this area that are sharing their information, " Goodell said. "And they don't all agree, by the way. This is an evolving science. And that's okay. That will further our agenda and improve our care."

Dave Scheiber can be reached at 727 893-8541 or scheiber@sptimes.com.

[Last modified June 19, 2007, 18:32:53]