Brisbane Broncos player Deine Mariner underwent urgent surgery at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on Sunday morning after developing acute compartment syndrome in his right thigh. The injury occurred during Saturday night's match against the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium.
According to Broncos chief medical officer Dr. Matt Hislop, Mariner sustained a severe cork to his quadriceps late in the first half. He was assessed, strapped, and padded before returning to the field for the final 15 minutes of the game. By midnight, his quad was swollen, but he was clinically stable and able to eat dinner and go to bed.
At 1:30am, Dr. Hislop was called to see Mariner, who was in significant pain with a very firm thigh. An ultrasound showed diffuse swelling within the muscle with no drainable haematoma. Despite functioning nerves and arteries, Mariner was developing acute compartment syndrome, and an ambulance was called.
Paramedics provided pain relief, and Mariner was transferred to the emergency department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where doctors measured elevated pressure inside the muscle. A decision was made to perform limb-saving surgery in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Dr. Hislop thanked the hospital staff for their care. The length of Mariner's recovery will be determined as the swelling in the muscle resolves.
