There have been lots of questions on what kind of injury the Kenya Lionesses captain Aberdeen Shikhoyi succumbed to that led to her painful death. Speaking to Doctor Samuel Guma a member of URMS and the assigned Elgon Cup Doctor in the first leg that took place in Kampala at Kyadondo Rugby club he said the late suffered a fracture and dislocation of the fifth cervical vertebrae (neck bone) which was compressing her spinal cord.
The Uganda Rugby Medical Society (URMS) that was founded in the year 2004 by doctors who were former rugby
players provided the initial care for the Kenyan captain. The society aims to provide quality comprehensive medical care for all Ugandan rugby players.
The society works to ensure safety at all rugby games through the availability of equipment and supplies needed to manage injuries, training both health and non-health professionals in the management of rugby injuries, ensure rehabilitation of injuries and to advocate for the improved medical care for rugby players in Uganda.
The society currently has nine medical doctors, six physiotherapists, a sports scientist, five medical students and a nutritionist.
Elgon Cup Medical Team Preparations:
In preparation for the Elgon cup, the society named a ten man strong team of specialist doctors, general doctors and physiotherapists. They also arranged for three ambulances service providers including International Air Ambulance, St. Catherine hospital and the surgery. The ambulance team was also given a boost by the Jinja road police station ambulance.
Before the games started the ambulances were inspected and the medics went through different protocols for management of severe injuries especially head and neck injuries. They also laid out strategies for team and coordination and emergency evacuation.
The clash and Doctors pitch diagnosis
The games began and the Uganda women took the lead, with the score not in Kenyan’s favour, In her efforts to lift up her team, Aberdeen found herself facing the big Ugandan forward and without hesitation she tackled the Ugandan. In the collision that ensued Aberdeen was knocked over and fell backwards. The Uganda women’s team doctor – Joseph Kalanzi noticed that Aberdeen was not getting up and lay on the ground motionless.
Kalanzi rushed onto the pitch with the Kenya team medic, he quickly made the initial diagnosis of a head and neck injury and immediately summoned the emergency response team that was on standby. The emergency team comprised of doctors Samuel Guma the tournament doctor and two highly trained anesthesiologists who specialize in intensive care doctor Tony Luggya former Uganda International rugby player working in Mulago hospital and a visiting US intensive care doctor Tony Roche.
The doctors together with the support of the medical team from International Air Ambulance and St. Catherine’s hospital rushed to the scene and stabilized Aberdeen’s neck and put her on a spinal board using clearly defined accident and emergency protocols for care for patients with neck and head injuries.
Aberdeen at the time was fully conscious and was complaining of pain at the back of her neck and that she couldn’t move her arms or legs, she actually asked the team “why are my legs and hands facing upwards”. An immediate neurological (nervous system) assessment was done and the team confirmed that she had suffered injury to her spinal cord most likely in her neck. She was given initial treatment of pain killers and then rushed to International Hospital Kampala for further investigations and management.
Hospital Assessments and decision of Airlift for surgery:
At the hospital a number of investigations were done including CT scan, which showed that a fracture and dislocation of the 5th cervical vertebrae (neck bone) which was compressing her spinal cord. The doctors realized that she needs immediate surgery by a team of highly specialized orthopedic and neurosurgeons. She was then airlifted to Nairobi hospital where she underwent neck surgery on Sunday April 22nd 2012 evening. The entire Kenyan and Ugandan rugby fraternity waited anxiously for news of the outcome of the surgery for a whole week and unfortunately the extent of the injury suffered was severe and Aberdeen passed on in the Nairobi hospital intensive care unit on Saturday April 28th 2012.
Doctors advice from URMS
The injury suffered by Aberdeen was extremely severe and for these kind of injuries the initial management and stabilization of the patient are of utmost importance. The Uganda rugby medical society’s medical team was well prepared and had undergone several trainings on management of head and neck injuries. The quick diagnosis and emergency response by the team of specialists could have given her the chance to be airlifted and undergo surgery 24hrs later in Nairobi hospital. The URMS has not got any feedback as to what was done or found during her surgery, we can only imagine that she got significant damage to her spinal cord and surrounding tissues and nerves which led to her death.
Caution for all sports Athletes
Fatalities in sport have been a frequent occurrence and contact sports like rugby, boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, football, basketball and motor racing need to have medical teams on standby for any eventuality. During the eight years of existence of the Uganda rugby medical society, many severe injuries have been successfully managed and some lives have been saved.
All sports team coaches and administrators should pay careful attention to strategies that help prevent injuries in sports like strength and physical conditioning, strapping of ankle joints, use of head gear, proper hydration to mention but a few. All sports men and women should also be subjected to a pre-athletic physical exam where all body systems are examined to rule out any physical disorders like heart defects, large internal organs that are prone to injury. Any athlete that takes to the field should ideally have a certificate of being in good physical and mental health.
Aberdeen was a great leader and advocate for the development of women’s rugby in Africa. Suggestions are currently being floated around that the women’s competition be renamed the Shikhoyi cup. She will be dearly missed by both her Kenyan and Uganda rugby fraternity. Her requiem service will be held on Thursday 10 May 2012 at the Friends Church, Maringo, at a time to be advised in the coming days and she will be laid to rest on Saturday 12 May 2012 in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, western Kenya.
On April 21st Aberdeen Shikhoyi sustained a severe injury that ended her life a week later in Nairobi Hospital, the medical team of the Uganda rugby medical society was well prepared for this kind of injury and managed to stabilise her neck and get her air lifted to Nairobi hospital where she underwent surgery but did not survive to live- May her soul rest in peace.