Sports Injury Highlight: Bo Jackson
Bo's Odyssey
It is a remarkable accomplishment to make it to the major leagues. Being a professional athlete is already tough and demanding enough, let alone doing so in two sports at once. From Bessemer, Alabama, Bo Jackson was a legitimate bi-athlete, making him one of the most iconic sports heroes of his time. Bo Jackson astounded the world with his versatility, playing baseball and football simultaneously. But tragedy struck before either of his dreams could materialize. Today, we will look at the story of Bo Jackson, one of the greatest athletes to ever perform, and how one injury ended two careers at once.
Jackson was one of the most beloved and respected athletes in the world. He joined the Kansas City Royals in 1986 and the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987. He wasn’t just a participant, he was one of the best at both simultaneously. Jackson was the first professional athlete to be an all-star in two sports simultaneously.
Despite his success, he was never been able to make it to either the Super Bowl or the World Series. He would chase these goals for the remainder of his career.
The Tragic Injury
During a 1991 NFL playoff game against the Bengals, he sustained a hip injury while being tackled. The injury occurred when Bengals’ Linebacker Kevin Walker grabbed and landed on Jackson’s leg, causing Jackson to fall. Walker was still holding Jackson’s leg during the fall, accidentally pulling the joint out of his socket while he fell forward. When he fell to the ground, Jackson's leg twisted. Between the initial grab, his leg being landed on and pulled, and the twist, his femur was overextended. He dislocated his hip, destroying the Raiders’ chances of Super Bowl glory.
Hip dislocation occurs when the femur is forced out of the pelvis’ socket.
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket mechanism. The socket is formed by a part of the pelvis known as the acetabulum. The ball is the head of the femur. A lining of articular cartilage covers the ball and socket mechanism, which creates a low friction surface. This allows the bones to move over and across each other.
The acetabulum is lined with fibrocartilage, which in turn is referred to as the labrum. The labrum creates a tight seal, which helps to provide stability to the joint. Ligaments help by adding extra stability to the hip joint.
When the hip is dislocated, the head of the femur is pushed out of the socket. It can either go forward (anterior dislocation) or backward (posterior dislocation). Jackson sustained posterior dislocation.
Hip dislocation is very painful. It can render the patient unable to move or stand on their leg. If they suffer from nerve damage, they may lose feeling in their foot or ankle. Damage to protective cartilage may increase the chances of developing arthritis in that joint. Untreated arthritis can lead to total hip replacement surgery.
Avascular Necrosis
After the injury, Bo Jackson underwent a thorough recovery process. The real issue that made him retire, however, wasn’t his hip dislocation. It was a bone disease that he developed while recovering called Avascular Necrosis. His newly developed disease forced him to retire from football in 1991.
Also called Osteonecrosis, Avascular Necrosis happens when the blood vessels are torn as a bone is pushed out of the socket. This cuts off the blood supply to the bone, killing the inner bone tissue. This can lead to breaks forming in the bone, which can ultimately cause the bone to collapse. This process can occur between a few months and a few years.
Somebody with Avascular Necrosis may not experience many symptoms initially. As the condition worsens, the joints start to hurt when weight is applied. Eventually, the patient experiences pain when lying down. The pain develops gradually, and eventually radiates to the surrounding regions of the body.
Bo Jackson received an artificial hip in 1992. While he continued to play baseball, he would never be able to play as well as he did before the injury. In 1994, he retired from baseball, citing his Avascular Necrosis as the reason for him to step away.
What could have been...
Some ask the question; What if Bo had access to our modern medicine? Would such a debilitating injury be healed by today’s technology? Some say yes, but as the old adage goes, ‘Woulda Coulda Shoulda.’ We can wonder what could have been done or what measures Bo or the Raiders could have taken, but the important question to ask is; how can we make sure this doesn't happen again?
Given his short careers in the NFL and MLB, it’s very unlikely Bo Jackson will enter the hall of fames for either organization. His tragedy serves as a reminder of what could have been, and what could be for many. His devotion to athleticism will never be overlooked.
After his retirement from baseball, Jackson got a degree in Family and Child Development from Auburn University. Now, he is in the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. He is a living legend in the vein of Achilles.
If you are seriously injured while playing a contact sport, seek treatment immediately. To avoid serious injury and prolong your sports career, visit Healthpointe today.