Personal Injury Law

First National Hockey League Player Diagnosed with CTE

By Bruce Stern

Though I've discussed several times in the past the link between the NFL and traumatic brain injuries, in a recent New York Times article, a deceased professional hockey player has been found to have had brain damage associated with repeated head trauma. This is the first time hockey has been associated with health risks like those associated with boxers and football players.

Reggie Fleming, a defenseman in the National Hockey League from 1959 to 1974, passed away in July at the age of 73 and was the first hockey player known to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a neurodegenerative disease known to cause cognitive decline, behavioral abnormalities and ultimately dementia.

Last month the NHL agreed to form a committee to study the issue of concussions in players, and a recommendation for new rules designed to cut down on hits that resulted in concussions was expected before the end of the season. You can read the full story online here.

Full post as published by Traumatic Brain Injury Law Blog on December 21, 2009 (boomark / email).