Jets’ Byrd Undergoes Surgery

Dennis Byrd underwent seven hours of surgery Wednesday that stabilized his spinal cord. He remains without motion in his legs and fingers and other portions of the left side of his upper body.

“The goal was to stabilize the spine, and that was achieved,” said Elliott Hershman, the New York Jets’ physician. “The long-term prognosis has not changed.”

Byrd broke the fifth cervical vertebra when he collided with teammate Scott Mersereau while trying to make a tackle last Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. He has had no voluntary motion in his legs since, although he does have some sensation.

Asked if Byrd might walk again, Hershman said: “That’s very difficult to answer. I prefer to use the term ‘We are hopeful.’ ”

He did say that if the ability to walk returns, it will happen within two years.

“The overall amount of improvement that may occur will take some time to determine,” Hershman said. Walking again depends “strictly on his ability to heal, time and his body’s ability to heal.”

After removal of disk material in the region of the break, a piece of bone from the pelvis and two plates with nine screws were inserted into the neck to stabilize the area, Hershman said.

Byrd also was given doses of Synex, an investigational drug to promote healing of the spinal cord. Synex is not approved for use in the United States, and Hershman said permission was needed from Byrd’s family and the drug’s manufacturer to use it.

“He tolerated the drug well,” Hershman said. “The benefit of it is to promote the healing of the spinal cord. We don’t know how much effect it has.”

For the next 48 to 72 hours, Byrd will be watched for signs of infection and monitored for blood clots because he has been immobile for so long.

Byrd will begin rehabilitation after that and should be released within two weeks. He then would go to a rehabilitation center for several months.

Byrd, 26, did not sever his spinal cord.

In the ambulance on the way to the hospital from Giants Stadium, Byrd said all he wanted to do “was hug my girls again.”

He should be able to hug wife Angela and 2-year-old daughter Ashtin again, Hershman said.

The Jets held their first practice since Sunday, while the team of six surgeons operated on their fallen teammate.

“We have to draw strength from him and that’s what I’m doing,” Mersereau said.

Byrd has had some involuntary movement in his feet and some feeling in his legs. But “if you asked Dennis to move any part of his feet, he cannot,” Hershman said.

“Dennis right now is very positive. His reaction is probably very much like he approaches life. He wants to succeed.”