Richmond forward Jack Higgins requires surgery to fix brain bleed
Jack Higgins will have surgery next week after Richmond revealed the cause for his brain bleed, and provided a medical update on his likely return to footy.
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Richmond livewire Jack Higgins will have surgery next week to repair a cluster of “abnormal” blood vessels in the brain prone to spontaneous bleeding.
Tigers club doctor Greg Hickey released a statement on Wednesday night after the 20-year-old forward was discharged from hospital.
“Jack’s neurosurgeon has decided the best course of action is for Jack to have surgery next week to repair the area of abnormal blood vessels responsible for the bleeding on his brain,” Hickey said.
“Following the surgery, there will be a period of recovery and rehabilitation for some months, but we certainly expect Jack to resume playing football next season.”
The brittle blood vessels — vascular malformation — can be treated by way of surgery to remove vessels, alternatively, inserting coils (embolisation) to block the vessels, and non-surgical radiation therapy.
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Experts in the field say patients can make a full recovery and resume full-contact sport.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said Higgins, who will return to football next year, was born with an “abnormality” to blood vessels in the brain.
“He has had an abnormality since birth that has reared its head and is a chance to pop up its head between the ages of 10 and 30,” Hardwick said.
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“Obviously, he’s had a bigger bleed which has caused the issue.”
Higgins reported a “bad headache” to the club’s doctors last Sunday after collecting 22 disposals for the Tigers’ VFL side against Werribee.
Scans later revealed a bleed on the brain, resulting in Higgins’ admission to hospital.
Hardwick praised club doctors for acting swiftly.
“Now we know the solution we just got to be patient and wait until that (procedure) occurs,” Hardwick said.
Higgins, who remains in “good spirits” despite the setback, burst onto the scene last year, kicking 15 goals in 20 games.
The popular small forward started this year strongly, but fell out of favour after the Round 13 loss to Adelaide, having gone goalless in eight of the 10 previous outings.
Jack Higgins continues to be treated in hospital for a brain bleed. He’s in good spirits and we will provide more accurate information when possible.
— Richmond FC 🯠(@Richmond_FC) July 16, 2019
All our thoughts are with Jack, his family, and the whole team at this time 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/QYFce3vBJC
— with Rebecca Williams, James Mottershead, Ben Broad
Originally published as Richmond forward Jack Higgins requires surgery to fix brain bleed
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