Sports Injury Hall of Fame: Bo Jackson
Facing the Impossible
It is an incredible feat of endurance and talent to make it to the big leagues. Playing one sport is already tough and demanding enough, let alone two. Hailing from Bessemer, Alabama, Bo Jackson was an authentic bi-athlete, making him one of the most iconic figures of his time. Jackson astounded the world with his versatility, playing both football and baseball at a professional level. But before either of his dreams could come to pass, tragedy struck. Today, we will be looking at the story of Bo Jackson, one of the brightest stars to ever shine in the sports world, and how one injury ended two of his careers.
Shining Star
At his peak, Bo Jackson was one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. He joined the MLB’s Kansas City Royals in 1986 and the NFL’s Los Angeles Raiders in 1987. Jackson wasn’t just a participant in either sport, he was one of the best at both simultaneously. Bo was the first professional athlete to be an all-star in two sports at the same time.
Despite this incredible success, he had never been able to make it to either the World Series or the Super Bowl. He would chase these goals for the remainder of his athletic career.
The Injury
In 1991, during an NFL playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he suffered a hip injury while being tackled. The injury occurred when Bengals’ Linebacker Kevin Walker grabbed and then landed on Jackson’s leg, causing him to fall. Amidst the fall, Walker was still holding Jackson’s leg, accidentally pulling the joint out of the socket while Jackson fell forward. When he fell to the ground, Jackson twisted his leg. Between the initial grab, his leg being landed on, his leg being pulled, and the twist, he overextended his femur. He dislocated his hip, dashing the Raiders’ chances of Super Bowl glory. Many claim that Bo Jackson’s injury during this game started a curse on the Bengals that looms over the franchise to this very day.
Hip Dislocation
Hip dislocation occurs when the femur is forced out of the pelvis’ socket. It takes an intense force to dislocate the hip.
The hip joint has been compared to a ball-and-socket apparatus. The socket is formed by the acetabulum (part of the pelvis) and the ball is the head of the femur, also called the femoral head. A smooth film of articular cartilage covers the ball and socket, creating a low friction surface. This helps the bones glide over and across each other.
The acetabulum is lined with fibrocartilage, referred to as the labrum. The labrum creates a gasket around the socket. This creates a tight seal, which helps to provide stability to the joint. Ligaments also provide extra stability to the hip joint.
When the hip is dislocated, the head of the femur is pushed out of the socket either forward (anterior dislocation) or backward (posterior dislocation). Bo Jackson suffered from posterior dislocation.
Hip dislocation is incredibly painful, and it renders the patient unable to move their leg. If they suffer from nerve damage (particularly the sciatic nerve) they may lose feeling in their foot or ankle. Damage to the protective cartilage may increase the likelihood of developing arthritis in that joint, which could lead to total hip replacement surgery.
Retirement from Football
After his injury, Jackson went through a lengthy recovery process. However, the real issue that made him retire wasn’t the hip injury itself; it was a bone disease that he developed during his recovery called Avascular Necrosis that signaled the end of his career. He stepped away from the sport in 1991.
Avascular Necrosis
Also known as Osteonecrosis, Avascular Necrosis occurs after blood vessels are torn as the femur is pushed out of the socket, cutting off the blood supply to the bone. This kills the inner bone tissue, and can lead to breaks forming in the bone. These breaks can ultimately cause the bone to collapse, and the process can occur anywhere from a few months to a few years.
At first, you may not experience many symptoms. As the condition gets worse, the joints start to experience pain when weight is put on them, and eventually even when lying down. The pain develops gradually, and eventually radiates to the groin, thigh, or buttock. The feet, shoulders, knees, and hands are also common body parts that develop Avascular Necrosis. Some people develop it bilaterally, on both sides.
Retirement from Baseball
In 1992 Jackson received an artificial hip. While he would continue to play baseball, Jackson would never be able to play the same way he did before his injury. Two years later, in 1994, he would retire from baseball as well, citing the same lingering hip injury as the reason for him to step away from yet another sport.
What if…?
Some raise the question; What if Bo Jackson had access to modern medicine? Would such an intense injury be quelled by today’s medical technology? Some say yes, but as the old adage goes, ‘If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.’ We can hypothesize on what could have been done, what could have been prevented, or what measures Bo or the Raiders could have taken. That being said the important question to ask is; how can we make sure the loss of a career with this much potential never happens again?
Given his short tenure in the NFL and MLB, it’s highly unlikely Bo Jackson will enter the proper hall of fames for either institution. He serves as a reminder of what could have been, and what could be for many. His devotion to athleticism has not been under looked.
After retirement from pro sports, Bo Jackson pursued a degree in Family and Child Development from Auburn University. He sits in the Kansas City Royals and College Football Halls of Fame respectively. He is a living legend, albeit a tragic one.
If you are seriously injured while playing a contact sport, seek treatment immediately. To avoid serious injury and prolong your sports career, visit Healthpointe today.