Crichton does not need surgery but future uncertain

Loki Crichton was injured in the Chiefs' 20-6 Super 12 loss to Queensland on Friday. Picture / Fotopress

Chiefs winger/fullback Loki Crichton will not need surgery for his injured neck.

But his Super 12 rugby season is over and his future playing career is still under a cloud.

While scans at the hospital showed surgeons Crichton hadn't suffered a neck dislocation in an on-field collision during last Friday night's 20-6 loss to the Reds at Waikato Stadium, they did confirm a fracture of the fourth vertebra in the middle of his neck.

Team doctor Zig Khouri said Crichton remained in hospital and would be fitted with an external brace in the next few days, which he would have to wear three to six months.

While it was still a very serious neck injury, there was a difference in how doctors treated a fracture as opposed to a dislocation.

It had been initially thought Crichton had both a dislocation and a fracture following the incident.

"It is good news for Loki that he doesn't require surgery now, Dr Khouri said.

"But the bottom line is that he's still got a broken neck.

"It's still not very clear at this stage in terms of his long-term future in rugby.

"We will still be taking a lot of advice from various people before any decision is made on that long-term future further down the track."

- NZPA