Sterling out for the season!

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B.C. - 24

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Injury sidelines Sterling Marlin
for rest of 2002 season
By JIM UTTER and BOB HENRY
ThatsRacin.com Writers

Winston Cup championship contender Sterling Marlin has been diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae and will miss the remainder of the 2002 racing season.
Team co-owner Felix Sabates confirmed Marlin's status Wednesday and said Grand National competitor Jamie McMurray would be in the car for the rest of the Cup season.

McMurray, expected to join join Marlin and Jimmy Spencer on the Chip Ganassi Racing team, will also run the rest of the Grand National season.

"Sterling, obviously, is very upset becasue he felt like he had a legitimate chance at winning his first championship," Sabates said. "Yes, the team had fallen off a little bit over the past couple of weeks, but with the tightness of the points race, he had as good a shot as anyone."

A second-generation driver from Columbia, Tenn., Marlin has suffered accidents in two recent Winston Cup races, at Richmond and Kansas City. He had fallen to fifth in the season standings.

Doctors in Charlotte, N.C., diagnosed Marlin with a fracture in his C-2 vertebrae - in the neck - Wednesday morning.

He was given the option of wearing a neck brace for the remainder of the season or trying to race as much as possible, then have surgery in January.

He shouldn't require the surgery if he sits out, Sabates said.
 
Ouch. Hate it to see it end after such a great season.
 
That's such a bummer for him. He's had a great two-year run.
 
Yea, I hate to see anybody have to get out of their ride due to injury. But you know it has to be extra tough when you've got a shot at the title.
 
and a tough role for Jamie to step into or is it Scott (if you saw IWC you get the reference)
 
Wow, this is huge. I feel so bad for Sterling.

And I bet Jeff Burton's feeling even worse about the incident today.

Guess this will be an opportunity for the rest of the top ten to catch up a bit more.
 
well that stinks!! I had sterlign to win the cup and even with him having problems the past few races i still thougth he could do it.
It is good for jamie so that he can get more seat time in a cup car but thats not the way they wanted it to happen. It just kinda lucky that there is only 7 races left so that they would not have to put another driver in the car so that jamie would not lose the option of ROTY in 2003
 
The thing to remember is this could happen to any of the guys in the hunt for the cup.It ain't over untill it's over for sure.I have a lot of sympathy for Sterling.He showed how an ol timer can still be a threat to win in Stockcar racings biggest game.Congrats to him,and his team on a awesome year.Get well soon Sterling. :)
 
I am not a big fan of Sterling, but it is a shame to see him out of the championship race. Hopefully this doesn't require surgery, although I can't see how it wouldn't, and he will be ready to go next year.
 
I'm not a big fan of Sterling Marlin but to see anyone get hurt real stinks. Sterling was having such a good year but it looks like everything he did to try to win the title is now down the tube.
 
All I can say is McMurray better drive these last 7 races like they are his life. This is the best equipment he could get, he better not ruin his chances, cause next year it is a brand new team.
 
man that really sucks........i feel bad for the man

he finally has a shot at the championship and this happens......damn that terrible.
 
It stinks that Sterling is out for the year. I hope he gets well and comes back stronger next year. I'd like to see him contend again, even though I'm not a big fan. Jamie better pull those belts tight, he's in for the ride of his life. Question - He can still run for ROTY next year right, even if he runs the rest of this year's races?
 
As long as Jamie doesn't race in more than 7 races before his rookie season, he will still be able to go for ROTY next year.
 
Jamie will only be driving in six of the remaining seven races...he's still in contention for the BGN championship and that's his full time job. There's one race that conflicts with the Cup race-The Martinsville Cup race conflicts with the Memphis BGN race.



Here's the bulletin from StockCarFans newsletter:

In the midst of a furious points battle Sterling Marlin has had to bow
out. This breaking news just in....

Ganassi PR

MARLIN OUT FOR REMAINDER OF NASCAR WINSTON CUP SEASON
Jamie McMurray has been announced as the replacement driver

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 2, 2002) - Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix
Sabates announced today that Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 40 Coors
Light Dodge, will not compete for the remainder of the 2002 NASCAR
Winston Cup season.

Marlin suffered a non-displaced fracture of the #2 cervical vertebrae as
a result of his accident at Kansas Speedway on September 29. Dr. Jerry
Petty, neurosurgeon, and Dr. Dom Coric, spinal injury specialist, of the
Carolina Neurological and Spinal Injury Clinic, are treating Marlin.
Both doctors are the attending physicians. Marlin is expected to return
to his full duties as driver of the Coors Light Dodge for the 2003
season.

"It is unfortunate that Sterling has to end his season early due to his
injury," owner Chip Ganassi said. "Sterling has dominated the
championship points race and we were looking forward to helping him win
his first NASCAR Winston Cup title. We are expecting Sterling to make a
full recovery and be ready to go for the title chase again in 2003."

Jamie McMurray has been announced as the replacement driver for the No.
40 Coors Light Dodge. McMurray was recently announced as the driver of
the Havoline Dodge for the Ganassi team in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup
Series season.

McMurray is currently racing full time in the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand
National Division. He will continue his driving duties for the No. 27
Williams TravelCenters team for the remainder of the 2002 Busch
schedule. McMurray will also compete in the remaining 2002 Winston Cup
schedule except for the Martinsville race on October 20, which is a
conflict date with the Memphis Busch Series race.

McMurray is currently racing in his second full season in the NASCAR
Busch Series, Grand National Division. He currently sits eighth in the
Busch Series championship points standings and has accumulated three
top-five and 11 top-10 finishes during the 2002 campaign. McMurray's
most recent top-10 finish was this past weekend at the Kansas Speedway
where he finished in the 10th position.

No news conference is scheduled at this time. The Chip Ganassi Racing
team will distribute updates on Marlin's condition as more information
becomes available.
:(
 
Ouch, what a bummer. Best thing is that he gets healed for next year. At least his team can build on this years success. Mcmurray? How many races can he run to still contend for rookie of the year next year?
 
This injury is more serious than they are letting us believe.
Two years ago my 20 year old neice was in a car accident, and broke the C2 vertebra. She was given a choice: surgery, a halo, or wearing a hard collar brace for at LEAST 6 months. She opted for the surgery, in which they made an incision in the front of her neck, and placed a permanant bone screw. She is very fortunate that she was not paralyzed, as this bone is correlated with the spinal cord at the base of the neck. The doctors have told her if she receives a major jolt to the neck, the screw could dislodge and paralyze her or possibly kill her. Christopher Reeve's injuries involved several of his vertebra, including C2, which is called a hangman's break. My niece is lucky that her injuries were not as severe as his. God bless Sterling, and let's hope he is smart about this. It could not only ruin his career, but could keep him from walking. I really hated to hear this, it hits close to home.
 
Yes. A broken C2 vertebra. She has recovered, although the screw will stay in place for the rest of her life. There is no way in hell she could do any major physical exercise, let alone drive a race car.
 
This does sux! This is one of those things there's no words for.

I do hope his health returns & he's in the drivers seat next year @ daytona.

great driver for the chapionship, Stop bye racing luck.

Get Well
 
I guess it would depend on the severity of the break as well.
 
there are several forms of C 2 fractures

Cervical spine (C-spine) injuries are the most feared of all spinal injuries because of the potential for significant deleterious sequelae. Correlation is noted between the level of injury and morbidity/mortality (ie, the higher the level of the C-spine injury - the higher the morbidity and mortality). Craniocervical junction injuries are the deadliest.

As many as 10% of unconscious patients who present to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) have C-spine pathology. MVAs and falls are responsible for the bulk of C-2 fractures. The clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to frank paralysis. This article focuses on the uniqueness of and the most common types of traumatic C-2 (axis) fractures.

The workup of suspected C-2 fractures relies on imaging. Plain film, CT scan, and MRI modalities are all employed. Plain film views should include anteroposterior (AP), lateral, and odontoid views. Additionally, some authors recommend oblique views to better assess the posterior elements. Specific radiographic findings were discussed in the section Common C-2 Fractures.

Plain films tend to be better than CT at detecting subluxations and dislocations, and CT is usually better at detecting most fractures and also characterizing the extent of the pathology. Most of the fractures that CT misses are those oriented in the axial plane and those involving the odontoid process. Plain film also is better in detecting vertebral body and spinous process fractures. Plain films are routinely used as the study of first choice, and if pathology is found, then CT usually is performed next to help define the extent of the injury. If the plain film studies are not diagnostic and clinical suspicion remains high, then further evaluation using CT is mandatory.

Some clinicians advocate the use of 3D CT reconstruction as both a diagnostic aid and also as a surgical template. However, its role has yet to be fully characterized. The role of MRI in spinal trauma is to aid in the characterization of soft tissue injury, neural element injury, and disc injury. This is the study of choice for the evaluation of ligamentous and spinal cord injury and is mandatory in any trauma patient with a neurologic deficit. TREATMENT Section 6 of 10
Author Information Introduction C-2 Anatomy Common C-2 Fractures Workup Treatment Complications Outcome And Prognosis Pictures Bibliography

Odontoid fractures

Treatment for type I fractures is hard-collar immobilization for 6-8 weeks, which usually is quite successful. Type II fractures can be managed conservatively or surgically. Treatment options include halo immobilization, internal fixation (odontoid screw fixation), and posterior atlantoaxial arthrodesis. Arthrodesis can be accomplished by C-1/C-2 transarticular crew fixation, interlaminar clamps, or wiring techniques such as the Gallie or the Brooks method. Management with the halo vest usually is considered if the initial dens displacement is less than 5 mm, the reduction is performed within one week of the injury and is able to be maintained, and the patient is younger than 60 years. During immobilization, alignment is assessed to ensure that reduction is maintained. Displacement of less than 20% is acceptable. The halo vest is in place from 12-16 weeks and the fusion rate is over 90%.

Wiring techniques, such as Gallie or Brooks methods, offer a high fusion rate (about 95%); however, the posterior arch needs to be intact and a halo vest must be worn postoperatively. Transarticular screw fixation provides a high fusion rate and the posterior arch need not be intact. Although the posterior surgical fusion techniques provide high fusion success rates, these do so at the expense of cervical rotation. Generally up to 50% of rotation is lost with these techniques.

Nonunion, malunion, and pseudarthrosis formation are potential major complications. Factors affecting this are amount and position of displacement, degree of angulation, ability to obtain and hold a reduced fracture, age of the patient, and tolerance to halo immobilization. However, some reports have demonstrated nonunion rates approaching 80% in certain subsets of patients. In a recent paper, Shilpakar and McLaughlin looked at all treatment options and associated rates of complications. Based on a meta-analysis, they concluded that type II fractures are best managed with odontoid screw fixation.

Anterior odontoid single screw fixation is noted to preserve normal rotation at C-1/C-2, provide immediate stability, and obviate the need for postoperative halo immobilization. Furthermore, rates of malunion, nonunion, and pseudarthrosis formation are very low. There are limitations to this approach, namely, the age of the fracture and the patient’s body habitus. If the fracture is more than 4 weeks old or if the patient possesses a short neck and barrel-shaped chest, consider an alternative treatment approach such as transarticular screw fixation or Brooks sublaminar fusion.

Type III fractures are treated with halo immobilization, odontoid screw fixation, or C1/C2 arthrodesis. Deep, displaced, or angulated fractures are treated with closed reduction and halo thoracic immobilization. Uncomplicated shallow type III fractures are treated with odontoid screw fixation. Nonunion and malunion are potential complications. The vertical type of odontoid process fractures is addressed in the treatment section of Traumatic spondylolisthesis.

Lateral mass fractures

Treatment ranges from collar immobilization for uncomplicated minimally depressed fractures to cervical traction followed by halo immobilization for more extensive fractures. Complications secondary to posttraumatic degenerative changes may eventually warrant atlantoaxial arthrodesis.

Extension teardrop fractures

Treatment of these fractures is cervical orthosis, unless more aggressive measures are needed to secure a concomitant unstable fracture.

Traumatic spondylolisthesis

Treatment of type I fractures usually is with a Philadelphia collar or halo. Several treatment options are available for type II fractures, the first being conservative external fixation with halo or tong traction in weighted extension for 1 week. If reduction is acceptable (with less than 4 mm of displacement and less than 10 degrees of angulation), treatment progresses with halo-vest immobilization for 12-16 weeks. If reduction is unacceptable, weighted extension traction resumes for up to 6 weeks, followed by halo treatment for 6 weeks. If adequate results are not achieved after closed reduction and traction, open reduction with anterior cervical plating is the next step. The other surgical treatment option consists of weighted extension traction to accomplish adequate reduction, followed by internal fixation with a C-2 transpedicular screw. Conservative and surgical treatments typically yield excellent results.

Treatment options for type IIA fractures include both conservative and surgical measures. Conservative treatment consists of closed reduction that is obtained under fluoroscopic guidance via application of compression and extension and followed by halo-vest immobilization. Repeated imaging is used to monitor the healing process with a variant time course. Surgical options include C-2 transpedicular screws and anterior cervical plating. Conservative and surgical treatments typically yield very good results. Malunion is a potential complication.

For type III fractures, surgery is indicated if the fracture line extends anteriorly to the facet dislocation, at the level of the dislocation, or just posterior to it. Any of these locations make reduction unlikely secondary to instability. In this case, surgical reduction and stabilization is mandated and is accomplished with lateral mass plates, interspinous wiring, or bilateral oblique wiring. Once accomplished, bilateral pedicle fractures can be addressed with C-2 transpedicular screws or treated conservatively with traction or a halo/vest. Lateral mass plating of C-2 by placing lateral mass screws in C-3 in conjunction with C-2 transpedicular screws may make the need for postoperative halo immobilization unnecessary.

Atypical traumatic spondylolisthesis fractures are managed on a case-by-case basis, weighing the need for more aggressive stabilization against the likelihood of fragment dislodgment and subsequent spinal cord injury. Surgical treatment options for these fractures include C-2 transpedicular screw fixation along with odontoid screw fixation.

Complications of C-2 fracture treatment are nonunion, malunion, pseudoarthrosis formation, infection, neurovascular injury, acute airway compromise, and hardware failure. The risks of nonunion, malunion, and pseudoarthrosis formation are lessened with surgical treatment. As with any surgical procedure, risk of infection always exists. Osteomyelitis is a rare, but not uncommon, complication. Some authors recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics for up to 72 hours following surgery and continuation if there is evidence of an infection. Neurovascular injury is a risk associated with any surgical intervention and is a function of both surgical acumen and anatomic variability. Airway compromise is a risk associated with any anterior surgical approach and prolonged endotracheal intubation may be necessary. Common hardware failures include screw bending and breaking, loosening of implants, and hardware failure secondary to osteoporotic bone. OUTCOME AND PROGNOSIS Section 8 of 10
Author Information Introduction C-2 Anatomy Common C-2 Fractures Workup Treatment Complications Outcome And Prognosis Pictures Bibliography

Follow-up is critical for any patient sustaining a C-2 fracture. In addition to the clinical examination, repeat imaging studies are warranted. Generally, the various treatment modalities used for C-2 fractures are quite successful. The only current data available on outcome is for surgical treatment of type II odontoid fractures. A meta-analysis was performed and showed that single screw odontoid fixation using the anterior approach yielded better results than those found with transarticular fusion, multiple screws, or closed reduction with halo vest immobilization. PICTURES Section 9 of 10
Author Information Introduction C-2 Anatomy Common C-2 Fractures Workup Treatment Complications Outcome And Prognosis Pictures Bibliography
 
a broken vertebrae is nothing to mess around with..............sorry to see it happen to ole sterlin........
 
Guess we will see just how good Jamie is. Now he will have to race Homestead.
 
i wonder in sterlin could ever really recover from an injury like this...............??????
 
my dad said e-mail his owner and he will drive the car and win him the owners cup.

i know he is my dad but i bet he could wipe the floor with any driver out there. so if anyone knows some one in cup/bush.nascar and wants a driver e-mail N.A.M.S. at [email protected]

thanks
 
It is terrible to see Sterling have to sit this out. It must hurt him to see someone else jump into his car.
 
Originally posted by Lap3Forever
my dad said e-mail his owner and he will drive the car and win him the owners cup.  

i know he is my dad but i bet he could wipe the floor with any driver out there. so if anyone knows some one in cup/bush.nascar and wants a driver e-mail N.A.M.S. at [email protected]  

thanks
Click to expand...

Lappy, do you think you dad could drive me around? ;)



Just messing with you! Don't misinterpret me, like everyone did Junior... :p
 
Originally posted by abooja
Lappy, do you think you dad could drive me around? ;)



Just messing with you!  Don't misinterpret me, like everyone did Junior... :p
Click to expand...

i am sure he would. what car do you want to ride in the Benz or Porsche 944.....hang on the Benz is dead. :rolleyes:
 
This news really sucks! I am not a big Sterling fan either, but wish no harm to ANY driver. Thank GOD for the Hahns device or it might have been worse than a non-displaced fracture.
This incident will also have an emotional effect on other drivers and I pray that I never see a wreck of this magnitude again!

Believe it or not Lizzycat, I understood all you wrote!

A speedy recovery to Sterling:) :) PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
 
man, i was so busy today that i didnt look at any nascar til ym dad called me 15 minutes ago and saw it on foxs sport, i was in shock!!!!! i was like omg, this will definitely play a major role in the points though, man who would have thought
 
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