Stafford Vs Tony Romo’s Back Injury
There’s been a lot of talk comparing Stafford’s back injury to Tony Romo’s back problems that forced him to retire.
Romo’s back injury was much more serious than Stafford’s.
Stafford
What Was the Problem?
Stafford suffered transverse fractures in his back.
Transverse processes are small bones that extend from the main vertebrae of the spine. They serve as attachment points and anchors for ligaments and soft tissues. The injuries are painful but do not affect the spinal cord or result in any loss of motor function. They could restrict motion and movement due to pain, however.It is usually a 2-6 week injury
What Surgery Did Stafford Have?
Rest is all that was needed. -no surgery. Stafford didn’t miss a game in 2018 after suffering fractures in his back,and missed 8 games in 2019 with the same injury.
He wanted to play —and could have played—at least 3-4 of those games this season but was shut down. If they were in a playoff race he would have certainly played in those games.
Tony Romo
Romo was unable to start in the 2016 regular season after suffering a compression fracture to the L1 vertebra in his back.
“The Dallas Cowboys announced that Tony Romo had back surgery on Friday morning. He was placed on injured reserve and is done for the season, including the playoffs. The Romo story has been one of the more confusing ones over the course of the last week, so let’s take a look at the major questions surrounding Romo’s injury, surgery and impending rehab.”
What Was the Problem?
Romo had a herniated disc repaired surgically. The herniated disc was, according to multiple sources and reports, in the low back, though the level of the repair was not noted. Given the reports of motor nerve issues and hip pain, it is likely that the L4/5 disc was the problem. (Certain nerves come out between certain vertebrae, which makes this kind of deduction possible.)
What Surgery Did Tony Romo Have?
The Cowboys did not announce it officially, but they did say that Romo was expected to be home on Friday. That indicates that this surgery was done endoscopically and likely indicates a microdiscectomy. This type of surgery removes a small portion of the disc and repairs the herniation. In some cases, surgeons will create a small “tunnel” for the impinged nerve to run.
Others with Stafford type back Injury
Cam Newton (missed 1 game)
Cam Newton suffered a pair of transverse fractures in his lower back in a car accident on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. The quarterback returned to Carolina’s facility two days after the accident.
Newton did not play in Week 15, but started in Week 16, Dec -21, against the Browns.
David Carr (missed 1 game)
David Carr had the same injury a few years ago.
"The Oakland Raiders will be without quarterback Derek Carr as he suffered a transverse process fracture in his back Sunday. … Carr was injured on a sack late in the third quarter of Oakland’s 16-10 loss at the Denver Broncos in 2017. Carr missed one game that season.
