IndyCar: James Hinchcliffe Medical Condition (4th Update)
"We're very pleased with his progress and his condition continues to improve," said Dr. Timothy Pohlman, Senior Staff Trauma Surgeon at IU Health Methodist Hospital, who performed the surgery. "Our expectation, in consultation with the INDYCAR medical staff, is that a normal recovery is to be expected."
Hinchcliffe was transported by ground to the hospital following a single-car accident during practice for the 99th Indianapolis 500 on May 18.
Additional updates to Hinchcliffe's condition will be released when available.
05/19/15 Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe is improving as he remains in stable condition following surgery yesterday at IU Health Methodist Hospital for an injury to his pelvic area and upper left thigh. Hinchcliffe is undergoing further evaluations in the Intensive Care Unit and has been ruled out of Verizon IndyCar Series competition for the foreseeable future.
"Words can't describe how thankful I am to the Holmatro Safety Team," Hinchcliffe said. "Those guys, in addition to the doctors and staff at the hospital, are my heroes. I can't say enough how much I appreciate the outpouring of support from INDYCAR fans, my family and fellow drivers. We are all one big family and it feels like that today."
Hinchcliffe's surgery was performed by Dr. Timothy Pohlman, Senior Staff Trauma Surgeon at IU Health Methodist Hospital.
"He's stable and improving," said Dr. Pohlman. "His condition was critical upon his arrival and I think the INDYCAR system as a whole needs to be commended for how well they can take care of drivers in this situation."
Hinchcliffe was transported by ground to the hospital following a single-car accident during practice for the 99th Indianapolis 500 on May 18.
Additional updates to Hinchcliffe's condition will be released when available. IndyCar
05/19/15
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| We could have lost Hinchcliffe on Monday. It was touch and go. |
Great response by IndyCar's safety and medical teams more than likely saved James Hinchcliffe's life on Monday.
The personable Canadian driver was bleeding profusely after a vicious accident in Turn 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and, according to one of Hinchcliffe's associates who asked not to be identified when speaking with RACER, it was a life-threatening situation that was handled to perfection by IndyCar's HOLMATRO Safety Team, and by doctors inside the ambulance that rushed him to IU Health Methodist Hospital before surgeons completed the save.
In the impact, which flattened the right side of the chassis, one of the suspension wishbones penetrated the Dallara safety cell, and subsequently caused the majority of the physical damage Hinchcliffe received. RACER has confirmed through multiple sources that Hinchcliffe had the steel wishbone enter and exit his right leg, then enter his upper left thigh, and continue into his pelvic region before it came to a stop.
The suspension component pinned the 28-year-old in the car, leading the safety team to cut the wishbone from the chassis to allow Hinchcliffe's extraction.
With the multiple intrusions, Hinchcliffe experienced massive blood loss at the crash site, and despite the gravity of the soft tissue injuries to his lower extremities, stopping the bleeding became an immediate priority for the medical staff to address once he was pulled from the chassis.
After being placed in the ambulance, the doctors and technicians inside evidently stabilized Hinchcliffe's injuries. It's not known how long he was in surgery but it was "touch and go" for a while, according to the source.
"He's probably not going to race anymore this year but the most important thing is that all those great people saved his life," said his friend. More at Racer.com
05/18/15 Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, INDYCAR medical director:
Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe underwent surgery May 18 at IU Health Methodist Hospital for an injury to his upper left thigh. He has been transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and remains in stable condition. "Obviously we're relieved that James is awake and out of surgery," said Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team owner Sam Schmidt. "That's the most important thing on our minds right now and we will do absolutely everything required to ensure a complete recovery."
Additional updates to Hinchcliffe's condition will be released when available. [Editor's Note: Unofficial word is he had a compound fracture and lost a lot of blood.]
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| James Hinchcliffe |
05/18/15 Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, INDYCAR medical director: Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe is in stable condition and is undergoing surgery at IU Health Methodist Hospital for an injury to his left upper thigh.
Hinchcliffe was awake when he was transported by ground to the hospital following a single-car accident during practice for the 99th Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day. The Canadian's Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car made heavy right-side contact with the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier. Additional updates to Hinchcliffe's condition will be released when available.