Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers quarterback, suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back, the result of a roll-over two car collision just blocks from Bank of America BAC -0.57% stadium in Charlotte, N.C., earlier this afternoon.
The car accident occurred about 12:30 pm today, according to the Charlotte police. The driver of the car as well as Newton were taken to the hospital with apparent non-life threatening injuries.
“Further testing revealed that Cam Newton has two transverse fractures in his lower back, and no further internal injuries,” according to a statement released earlier this afternoon by the Panthers.
This is the same injury that Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, suffered earlier this season while playing in a football game. Romo ended up missing just one game as a result of this injury. At this time, it is unclear how long Newton will sit out before returning to play.
Transverse processes are smaller bones that extend from the main vertebral bodies of the spine, and serve as attachment points and anchors for ligaments and soft tissues. Such fractures are painful injuries that can take between 4-6 weeks to fully heal. It is important to know that these fractures do not affect the spinal cord, or lead to any loss of motor function, but may restrict motion and movement due to pain.
Bleeding and soft tissue injury can accompany such fractures, so ice, rest as well as anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce pain early after injury.
Newton will be held overnight for observation and well as pain management for his injuries.
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