NFL Network: Gronk punctured lung

E5 Yaz

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IANAD, so can someone explain how you puncture a lung without breaking a bone?
 

Stitch01

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Glad he didn't do further damage.

The right game to miss as they should be able to carve SF up on the ground.
 

E5 Yaz

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The shearing force from a tackle can do it even without breaking a rib.

What a badass
IOY10B

Last night, my wife (who is a much crazier Pats fan than I am) said that the Thomas hit and Gronk fall reminded her of the Bledsoe play. She was apparently closer to the truth than we knew
 

bankshot1

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IANAD, so can someone explain how you puncture a lung without breaking a bone?
I blew a hole in my lung in a sking fall (the right lung collapsed), with no fractures. The pain and discomfort was modest compare to the extreme pain when the doc reiflated the lung with a chest tube. Hope Gronk does not have to go through that.
 
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DaveRoberts'Shoes

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The amount of time that he is out for is contingent on the percentage of lung which is collapsed- one would have to assume that it is fairly low since he finished the game. With a small pneumothorax such as this there is no need for a chest tube and it will just heal on its own with time.

A mitigating factor here is the long cross-country flight - because of the pressure changes they may not want him to fly for at least a week
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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The amount of time that he is out for is contingent on the percentage of lung which is collapsed- one would have to assume that it is fairly low since he finished the game. With a small pneumothorax such as this there is no need for a chest tube and it will just heal on its own with time.

A mitigating factor here is the long cross-country flight - because of the pressure changes they may not want him to fly for at least a week
Good thing he and his brother's have a dedicated bus. On to Santa Clara indeed!
 

fiskful of dollars

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Yep. The blunt force from the tackle caused the lung to separate from the inner surface of the chest cavity. Generally the lung adheres to the chest cavity, like a balloon fitting snugly into a container. A tiny bit of air has escaped the lung and is now trapped in between the chest cavity and the lung itself. If the news reports are correct, then this air will be resorbed by the body without the need for a chest tube. Once that happens the collapsed portion of the lung will re-inflate and it's problem solved. "Punctured lung" is a misnomer in this case - I think collapse is more accurate.

DRS is right (as always) re the recovery time and concerns re a pressurized flight.
 

accidentalsuccess

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Scary stuff. Glad it seems like he'll be ok.

Also, how the **&%&$* wasn't that hit illegal as hell on a 'defenseless receiver'??? (presuming it was the one that caused the injury)
 

sodenj5

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Scary stuff. Glad it seems like he'll be ok.

Also, how the **&%&$* wasn't that hit illegal as hell on a 'defenseless receiver'??? (presuming it was the one that caused the injury)
The hit was literally a textbook hit. The NFL might show clips of that hit at future rookie symposiums to demonstrate exactly what a clean hit looks like. He hit him square in the chest with his shoulder without launching into Gronk. If he went high, it's a flag. If he leads with his helmet, it's a flag. If he leaves his feet, it's a flag. Great play by Thomas.
 

Van Everyman

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Also, how the **&%&$* wasn't that hit illegal as hell on a 'defenseless receiver'??? (presuming it was the one that caused the injury)
I asked the defenseless question on the game thread – the reply was that the rule only applies to hits to the head. Is that true? I realize we almost never seem to see defenseless receiver hits anymore with all the other rules being enforced.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I asked the defenseless question on the game thread – the reply was that the rule only applies to hits to the head. Is that true? I realize we almost never seem to see defenseless receiver hits anymore with all the other rules being enforced.
Close, here it is:

  1. Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is:
    1. forcibly hitting the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenselessplayer by encircling or grasping him
    2. lowering the head and making forcible contact with the crown or ”hairline” parts of the helmet against any part of the defenselessplayer’s body
    3. illegally launching into a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves both feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any part of his opponent’s body. (This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenselessplayer, as defined in Article 7.)
http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/defenseless-player/
 

singaporesoxfan

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Can we just put flags on their hips? The hitting makes me nervous.
You know hips don't lie. (As opposed to trying to figure who's defenseless)
I'm starting to feel it's right. (Better than seeing someone hit senseless.)
All the attraction, the tension (Did the defender pull the flag out?)
Don't you see baby, this is perfection (Or did the offender run a bad route?)
 

Boggs26

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Yep. The blunt force from the tackle caused the lung to separate from the inner surface of the chest cavity. Generally the lung adheres to the chest cavity, like a balloon fitting snugly into a container. A tiny bit of air has escaped the lung and is now trapped in between the chest cavity and the lung itself. If the news reports are correct, then this air will be resorbed by the body without the need for a chest tube. Once that happens the collapsed portion of the lung will re-inflate and it's problem solved. "Punctured lung" is a misnomer in this case - I think collapse is more accurate.

DRS is right (as always) re the recovery time and concerns re a pressurized flight.
Somewhat off topic, but it's possible to have a collapsed lung even without the massive force. When I was 18 I suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax while just hanging out at my friend's birthday party. Perhaps of interest to those wondering about playing through it, I went about my life in a bit of pain (as though I'd pulled a muscle) and with some moderate wheezing for almost a week before the odd gurgling noises in my chest finally prompted me to go to the doctor. After x-rays it was determined that my right lung was 80% collapsed and I had to have a chest tube inserted. The tube was in for a couple weeks including my first week of college where it made for a great party trick - put the end of the tube in a cup of water, get some people in nice and close to look, then cough and launch water everywhere.
 

fiskful of dollars

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Yes. Spontaneous pneumothoracies (PTX) occur pretty frequently. Usually in tall, thin teenagers. Usually nothing to worry about - sounds like yours was relatively severe. Most spontaneous PTX's resolve without treatment or a small "pigtail" catheter. Bong hits are often the culprit - just saying.
 

Reverend

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Umm...resident doctors? What are we dealing with?
I blew a hole in my lung in a sking fall (the right lung collapsed), with no fractures. The pain and discomfort was modest compare to the extreme pain when the doc reiflated the lung with a chest tube. Hope Gronk does not have to go through that.
The amount of time that he is out for is contingent on the percentage of lung which is collapsed- one would have to assume that it is fairly low since he finished the game. With a small pneumothorax such as this there is no need for a chest tube and it will just heal on its own with time.

A mitigating factor here is the long cross-country flight - because of the pressure changes they may not want him to fly for at least a week
Good thing he and his brother's have a dedicated bus. On to Santa Clara indeed!
Yep. The blunt force from the tackle caused the lung to separate from the inner surface of the chest cavity. Generally the lung adheres to the chest cavity, like a balloon fitting snugly into a container. A tiny bit of air has escaped the lung and is now trapped in between the chest cavity and the lung itself. If the news reports are correct, then this air will be resorbed by the body without the need for a chest tube. Once that happens the collapsed portion of the lung will re-inflate and it's problem solved. "Punctured lung" is a misnomer in this case - I think collapse is more accurate.

DRS is right (as always) re the recovery time and concerns re a pressurized flight.
Scary stuff. Glad it seems like he'll be ok.

Also, how the **&%&$* wasn't that hit illegal as hell on a 'defenseless receiver'??? (presuming it was the one that caused the injury)
Somewhat off topic, but it's possible to have a collapsed lung even without the massive force. When I was 18 I suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax while just hanging out at my friend's birthday party. Perhaps of interest to those wondering about playing through it, I went about my life in a bit of pain (as though I'd pulled a muscle) and with some moderate wheezing for almost a week before the odd gurgling noises in my chest finally prompted me to go to the doctor. After x-rays it was determined that my right lung was 80% collapsed and I had to have a chest tube inserted. The tube was in for a couple weeks including my first week of college where it made for a great party trick - put the end of the tube in a cup of water, get some people in nice and close to look, then cough and launch water everywhere.
Yes. Spontaneous pneumothoracies (PTX) occur pretty frequently. Usually in tall, thin teenagers. Usually nothing to worry about - sounds like yours was relatively severe. Most spontaneous PTX's resolve without treatment or a small "pigtail" catheter. Bong hits are often the culprit - just saying.
Man, I fucking love this place. :D
 

cutman1000

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I had a spontaneous pneumothorax when I was in vet school. Was in the hospital for 16 days. 3 chest tubes and chemical pleurodesis on day 10. Even Gronk couldn't have played through that!
 

mwonow

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I've had two that required hospitalization. Looking back, I think I had a smaller episode before the 'big ones' - I kind of crumpled to the floor, but got back up and kept functioning (was in a band rehearsal, didn't realize what had happened) but playing rock & roll does not involve violent contact - at least, in most rehearsals!

The two 'big ones' hurt like sumbitches. I ended up with surgery and tied to a wall for a week after the second, and got a "no fly" ban for a couple of months.

Sounds like Gronk's was of the partly-deflated not mostly/fully deflated variety - which is better for him and the Pats!

And fiskful - whatever that is you were talking about, well, that might've been a factor in my last PTX. Doc told me to 'stop smoking, or you'll die' after surgery - didn't specify substances or methods, but it was good advice tout court...
 

EdRalphRomero

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Man... someday Gronk's gonna come down with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and I'm gonna have my moment in the sun.
"So what's it like ERR?"
"What is the ratio of gas/excrement that he should expect?"
"Could you have played NFL Tight End after eating cheese, ERR?"

You'll all look up to me and shout "Tell us!"
And I'll whisper "no"
 

bankshot1

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I blew a hole in my lung in a sking fall (the right lung collapsed), with no fractures. The pain and discomfort was modest compare to the extreme pain when the doc reiflated the lung with a chest tube. Hope Gronk does not have to go through that.
Re spontaneous PTX.

About 3 months after my collapsed lung reinflated (3 week hospital stay in Vermont and then Dartmouth Med Ctr, Hanover NH) while walking home from the subway station, I felt/heard myself wheezing, and knew the lung had collapsed again. I had a "bleb" (an air pocket/weakness in the lung) that did not fully heal, and elected to have surgery to remove my right lobe where the bleb was located. After another 10 days in the hospital, (NYU Med Ctr) the full recovery time was about 6 weeks.
 
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Hobson's Choice

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Ian Rapoport is starting to get a reputation for over-stating injury. First the Gronk exaggeration, and now AJ Green's status is being downgraded from "out for the season" to "week by week." And yes, Schefter is the one reporting both corrections.
 

pokey_reese

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If you could pick two games for Gronk to miss, these would be the ones. That said, hope he heals quickly after this, even if they have to keep holding him out. We need him healthy for the playoffs.
 

tims4wins

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Yeah as long as the Pats keep winning games he should be resting up until he is 100%. Even if he is 100% I still might not bring him to Denver.
 

PayrodsFirstClutchHit

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That's a bit much.
Three things have been established as immutable laws within the Patriots universe.

1 - Do not play Denver at Denver in the playoffs.
2 - Do not play Baltimore at home in the playoffs.
3 - Do not play the Giants in the SB.

These are irrefutable facts and as such, should be pinned to the top of this forum until the web server hosting this site dissolves.
 

tims4wins

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Three things have been established as immutable laws within the Patriots universe.

1 - Do not play Denver at Denver ever unless Tebow or Danny Kannell is the QB (and even that might take a miracle finish / genius intentional safety maneuver)
2 - Do not play Baltimore at home in the playoffs.
3 - Do not play the Giants in the SB.

These are irrefutable facts and as such, should be pinned to the top of this forum until the web server hosting this site dissolves.
Fixed. But thank you.
 

tims4wins

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Just hoping it's a 2 game gap between Pats and Denver by that time.
Exactly. If Pats go into that game with 2 losses and Denver has 4 losses, then screw it.

I'm not being 100% serious here. As BB says if he is healthy he will play.

Of course if we go in with 2 losses and Denver has 4 losses, then Denver wins out, it means we need to win in Miami in week 17 to clinch the one seed... and we all know how that went last year.