The Michael Schumacher Career/Injury/Recovery Thread

Keep in mind that it is almost a customary "procedure" here in France for neuro-surgeons never to say anything about the possible future evolution of a state of health whenever such kind of injury occurs for at least 48h after the accident. His condition is severe of course, but I see nothing unusual in the way information is given/published.

Furthermore, as the family has specifically requested that the medical information given to the media should be restricted to the strict minimum, the unfortunate consequence is that there will be at least another day of discussions, speculations, etc...at least one, perhaps more.

What is to be hoped for is that there will be no other news before the next "point de presse", because in that case "no news will (somewhat) be good news".
There will not be any official assesment for the foreseable future before a few days I'm sure.

Rgds

 

Media here says he has been put into an artificial coma, referring to the press conference at the hospital this morning. Someone got something wrong, apparently.

 

I think we just don't know at this point.

If well wishes can ever help anyone, he's got lots of help around the globe right now. Keep the positive thoughts coming everyone!

Cheers,
Ian

 

No news is good news for now? Optimist here, he'll pull through.

 

+1 Yes, all we can do is send positive hope and thoughts.

 

Amen

 

Florian,

The "Le Monde" article quotes the press conference of this morning; translation for the fellow F-Chatters:

Selon le docteur Chabardes, l'Allemand est arrivé dimanche au CHU de Grenoble « dans un état obnubilé, agité ». « Il avait des mouvements spontanés des quatre membres mais ne répondait pas aux questions », a précisé le médecin. L'état du champion s'est ensuite « rapidement détérioré » et il est tombé dans le coma, « avec des signes d'hypertension intracrânienne ».

According to Doctor Chabardes, the German arrived on Sunday at the CHU of Grenoble, “in an obnubilated state, agitated”. “He had spontaneous movements from the four limbs but didn’t answer any questions” has precised the Doctor. The state of health of the Champion then “worsened markedly” and he fell into Coma “with signs of intra-cranial hypertension”.

For the time being, no next "point de presse" has been scheduled. If no news whatsoever should come in the next two days, knowing how medical information is treated here, this could be seen as good news. What I would fear (hopefully not happening, I hope!) is unscheduled news...

Rgds

 

+1

As Nerofer noted, them keeping 'quiet' has to be a good sign. He's 'critical', but we already know what a fighter he is.

And the out pouring of support is helping too I'm certain! Even the Prof has an eye on him right now.

 

Thanks for the direct quotes, nerofer!

 

It is completely possible that both statements are true, and that he fell into the initial coma and is now being kept in an induced coma post-op to ease recovery.

 

+1

That's pretty much what the docs here noted earlier.

 

More from Gary Hartstein, a very positive look:

The Monday press conference | A Former F1 Doc Writes

 

More from Gary Hartstein, a very positive look:

The Monday press conference | A Former F1 Doc Writes

 

Hang in there Mike and get better, with love from Georgia! He is my all time favorite driver.

 

Thanks Bas.

The lack of a second op is really good news I think.

Cheers,
Ian

 

You realize how you've made someone part of your family, when you're discussing their health, with real concern, over breakfast with your daughter and mother-in-law - as I just finished doing. Get well, Mike! We love you!!

 

Dr. Hartstein has a very clear style of writing - I like his easy explanations of the medical terms.

 

That's good news for now I guess.

 

Thank-you, Gary Hartstein (and Bas Jaski).

 

It is.
All everyone can do is wait.
And pray.

 

At the press conference it was stated that the right side of his head is swollen.

I've read that in these states it's possible he has been somewhat in and out of consciousness with what have been described as 'lucid intervals' while on respirators.

 

A leading neurosurgery specialist has described Michael Schumacher's condition as "very dangerous", warning that his injuries may take several days to "reach their peak".

Christopher Chandler, of the London Neurosurgery Partnership, said the haematoma and bruising the F1 champion suffered could cause "ferocious swelling".

"An intra-cranial haematoma is a blood clot, which causes swelling and pressure on the brain," he said.

"The scenario may be that he had a blood clot in his brain that required immediate removal, which would explain the surgery.

"By bilateral lesions, I suspect they mean contusions or bruising to the brain. That bruising of the brain, which you can see on a scan, causes ferocious swelling and that is really serious.

"(Cerebral) contusions are often the most significant injury. Once you remove the clot, the swelling carries on and bruising precipitates and propagates that swelling.

"If you have a brain injury with sufficient severity to cause a coma, that indicates a very serious situation. The longer a patient is in a coma, the less likely they are to make a full recovery.

"You can't say that they won't recover, and you can't say they won't be brain- damaged, but an injury such as bilateral bruising, which means on both sides of the brain, is very serious, and can be very dangerous."

The consultant continued: "Brain swelling takes a number of days to reach its peak. The brain has a rigid unyielding box around it - the skull - which allows no room for growth, making swelling very, very dangerous.

"And once that injury occurs it's a vicious circle where a little bit of swelling causes more pressure, which causes more swelling, more pressure, and it starts to accelerate and affect vital parts of the brain.

"When that happens, you are in really deep trouble, but this man received probably the best possible care that you could imagine in the circumstances.

"He had the brain injury and within minutes a team of medics were there and they airlifted him to hospital. Within half an hour he was assessed and being flown to the neurological unit in Grenoble."

 

I should note that my brother died 17 years ago of a bilateral brain injury such as this from a car accident. He was in a coma for two weeks......but he did require multiple procedures which is the difference here.

 

It is now on the Ferrari website Michael in everyone?s thoughts at Ferrari | Scuderia Ferrari

 

This seems like a lot of descriptions of what "can" happen, i.e. WCS. I believe that in dealing with swelling and pressure from the type of strike that Michael suffered, doctors will remove part of the skull to mitigate the vicious cylce of swelling/pressure (I recall such being the case with U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in he head from point blank range).

I think that these types of cases are so specific that it's hard to guage much at this point. Each case is ruled by its own circumstance, but I am encouraged by the fact Michael made it past 24 hours without the need for a second operation. It's definitely a moment-to-moment situation though