Injury may end Crichton's rugby career

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

Loki Crichton might not play rugby again.

But Chiefs team doctor Zig Khouri says the wing/fullback is very lucky.

Crichton suffered a serious neck injury in a collision with a Queensland Reds player five minutes from halftime in the Chiefs' 20-6 Super 12 loss on Friday night at Waikato Stadium.

X-rays have since revealed no spinal cord damage but at least a dislocation of his neck and probably a fracture, requiring surgery to stabilise it and so ending his season, with a chance it might also end his career.

"It's premature to say if Loki will be able to play rugby again but certainly there is a risk he may not play again," Dr Khouri said.

That would not be known until after surgery, which is likely to take place in Waikato Hospital later this week, and after considerable consultation with Crichton himself and various specialists.

"These decisions are not taken lightly.

"Often several opinions are sought and any decision could be some way down the track.

"But the good thing for him is that he was very lucky and that someone up there was looking after him as it could have been a whole lot worse."

Modern education on neck injuries might have saved Crichton from spinal cord damage and potential paralysis, which might have occurred if he had been turned over while lying on the ground after the incident.

Dr Khouri said the Reds players who were closest to him when the injury occurred had recognised a neck problem and sought aid without attempting to move him.

When the team doctor last spoke to Crichton in hospital yesterday, he was still awaiting CT and MRI scans to reveal the exact detail of his injuries.

"But you don't often get a neck dislocation without some sort of fracture in these cases."

Because the injury was stabilised, with Crichton flat on his back in hospital, there was no urgency for surgery, which would be fitted in to the schedule behind more pressing cases.

A Chiefs spokesperson said Crichton and his family were still too upset to talk about the injury to the media.

The Chiefs, who have slumped to 11th place on the Super 12 points' table after Friday night's loss, have a bye this week and are spending today and tomorrow at a camp at Whangamata.

- NZPA