One hour after the NHL All-Star Game, Crosby's agent Pat Brisson told the media that a neck injury discovered by Dr. Robert Bray in Los Angeles had "healed," but couldn't confirm if the vertebrae had indeed been fractured.
On Tuesday, another twist: The Penguins released a statement saying there was no fracture but that the root of Crosby's concussion-like symptoms might be traced to a neck injury.
An independent specialist contacted to review recent medical tests taken on Sidney Crosby found no evidence of a past or present neck fracture but verified that Crosby is suffering from a soft-tissue injury of the neck, that could be causing neurological symptoms.
Dr. Alexander Vaccaro is a spinal trauma expert at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and co-director of the Spinal Cord Center at Thomas Jefferson University. He is past president of the American Spinal Injury Association. Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, along with Penguins owner Mario Lemieux and CEO David Morehouse traveled Monday morning to Philadelphia, where Vaccaro reviewed a CAT Scan and MRI taken last week by Dr. Robert S. Bray in Los Angeles. Bray diagnosed a neck injury.
Bray has treated Crosby with an injection to alleviate swelling in the C1-2 joint of the neck and will be overseeing his progression with therapists. Doctors say the symptoms of a soft-tissue neck injury are similar to concussion symptoms.
Vaccaro, Bray and UPMC doctors all agree that Crosby is safe, the injury is treatable, and he will return to action when he is symptom-free.
Crosby and GM Ray Shero are scheduled to speak this evening, and we'll update when that occurs.
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