Line Drive Head Injury Could Have Killed Oakland A’s Pitcher Brandon McCarthy

The injury to Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who was struck in the head by a line drive hit by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar on Sept. 5, could have killed him. Although McCarthy walked off the field following the blow, an examination revealed that he had a skull fracture, for which he underwent emergency surgery the next day. According to Geoffrey T. Manley, MD, PhD, FAANS, vice chairman of neurological surgery at University of California, San Francisco, bone fragments from a skull fracture can cut the middle meningeal artery, resulting in death.

“If you are not treated for this, you could die, but if you’re treated rapidly, you usually have a very, very good recovery,” Dr. Manley told SFGate.com. “That is why people need to be evaluated promptly. Most patients who have this kind of injury return to a normal life. I have treated other athletes with similar injuries who have returned to playing sports.”

Manley said he believes McCarthy will return to pitch again. “He might not be back the rest of the season,” the neurosurgeon added, “but I don’t think this would preclude him from playing baseball.” For more information, click here to read the full article. To view a video of the play in which McCarthy was struck, click here.