Broncos chief medical officer Dr Matt Hislop has detailed the harrowing rush to save Deine Mariner's leg after the star centre's corked thigh worsened on Saturday night. The 23-year-old, diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome, is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital hours after Brisbane's loss to the Roosters.
Mariner spent time off the field before courageously returning to play when Josiah Karapani went down with an ankle injury. Brisbane revealed Mariner's operation on Sunday, with Dr Hislop now shedding fresh light on the process with the player's consent.
Medical Emergency Unfolds
"Deine sustained a nasty cork to his right quad late in the first half of the Roosters game and was assessed, strapped and padded before showing he could run," Dr Hislop said in a club statement. "He kept the leg mobile and remained available, returning to the field with 15 minutes to go in the second half."
"By the time we were in the hotel just before midnight his quad was swollen, but he was clinically OK, neuro-vascularly intact and able to finish dinner and go to bed," Dr Hislop added.
The situation worsened over the next hour. "I was called to see Deine at 1.30am and it was obvious that his thigh had deteriorated. He was in significant pain, and the thigh was very firm," Dr Hislop said.
Lifesaving Surgery
"We performed an ultrasound in the hope of draining a hematoma, but the swelling was diffused within the muscle, and there was nothing to drain. Thankfully, Deine still had functioning nerves and arteries in his leg, but it was apparent he was developing an acute compartment syndrome and an ambulance was called."
"Paramedics were able to provide much needed pain relief and Deine was transferred to the RPA ED department where doctors were able to measure the pressure inside the muscle, which was quite elevated. A decision was made to perform limb-saving surgery and Deine was taken to theatre in the early hours of Sunday morning."
"The length of recovery will be determined as the swelling in the muscle resolves. Both Deine and myself would like to thank all of the paramedics, nurses, ED doctors and trauma surgeons for their exceptional care."
Coach's Praise
Broncos coach Michael Maguire praised Mariner for returning to the field when his team needed him. "Deine probably shouldn't have gone back out but that's what they're doing for each other," coach Michael Maguire said in the post-match press conference.
"I could talk about many other players, but that's what the competition is demanding of you at the moment. Deine, straight away he jumped up and out he went. So they're competing really hard for each other."
